Axpo gears up for a CO2-neutral future with a new reserve power plant in Muttenz BL, aiming to bolster Switzerland’s energy resilience.

The energy group Axpo has submitted a project for a reserve power plant to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE). The planned gas turbine plant for emergencies is to be built in Auhafen in Muttenz BL in collaboration with local partners and cantonal authorities.

Axpo announced on Thursday that the power plant would basically be operated with eMethanol, i.e. CO2-neutral. However, due to the still limited availability of eMethanol, it would be operated with fossil fuels in the initial phase.

According to Axpo, the gas turbine power plant should be able to cover the electricity consumption of several hundred thousand households in the event of a shortage. Axpo is prepared to build this reserve power plant for emergencies.

To ensure that the reserve power plant is never used, the expansion of renewables in Switzerland should be accelerated, Axpo continued. In addition to alpine photovoltaic plants, wind power plants in particular have great potential to contribute to the winter supply.

The energy company, which is owned by several cantons, therefore supports the Electricity Act, which will be voted on by the Swiss people on June 9. Switzerland needs more electricity to achieve its climate targets, Axpo stated.

The law promotes the expansion of domestic renewable energy sources, including the realization of 16 hydropower projects, in order to strengthen Switzerland’s electricity supply in winter.

©Keystone/SDA