Alpiq and H2 Energy Plan to Use Hydropower to Produce Hydrogen for Fuel Cell Trucks

Switzerland’s first system for the commercial production of hydrogen is planned at the Gösgen hydropower plant. The 2 MW system is to be constructed by Hydrospider, which is owned in equal shares by Alpiq and H2 Energy. 

Fuel cell-powered electric trucks are quieter and have ranges and payloads that are comparable to those of diesel-powered trucks. Since they only emit water vapour, they are environmentally friendly and carbon free. Fuel cell-powered electric trucks that run on hydrogen will thus play a key role in the decarbonisation of goods transport, provided that the hydrogen is produced using renewable energy sources. This is precisely what Hydrospider intends to implement at Alpiq’s hydropower plant in Gösgen with the planned construction of Switzerland’s largest hydrogen production system.

The system is to be constructed on the left bank of the Aare canal. Its commissioning is scheduled for the end of the year. 

In future, Hydrospider intends to produce climate-friendly hydrogen in Gösgen using electricity from 100 percent hydropower to power the first 50 of a total of 1,600 fuel cell trucks, which Hyundai Hydrogen Mobility, a joint venture between Hyundai Motors and H2 Energy, will bring onto Swiss roads by 2025.