Source: punkt4.info

Power-to-X technologies (PtX) continue to play a crucial role in enabling a resilient, sustainable and defossilised energy system. One important part of this landscape is the production of renewable hydrogen, which can serve as a clean energy carrier for mobility, industry and the wider energy sector. More important, it is a crucial feedstock for derivatives like e-Methanol and other eFuels.

A recent development in Central Switzerland illustrates both the potential and the current challenges facing such projects. And it raises serious concerns whether Switzerland is on a good path towards the energy transition.

EBS Wasserstoff AG has announced that it will not begin hydrogen production in Seewen (SZ) for the time being. The planned facility, designed with an electrolyser capacity of 5–6 MW, was intended to supply hydrogen for up to 100 heavy-duty vehicles per day. According to the project partners, this could have contributed to annual CO₂ savings of around 7.8 million kilograms.

The project partners behind EBS Wasserstoff AG include ebs Energie AG (60 %), A. Käppeli’s Söhne AG (25 %) and the Industrielle Werke Basel (IWB, 15 %). The total investment planned for the Seewen site was approximately CHF 16.8 million.

However, the company has decided to pause the project due to insufficient current demand. While the infrastructure and technical concept remain promising from a Power-to-X perspective, the current market environment does not yet provide the economic conditions necessary for large-scale renewable hydrogen production. EBS Wasserstoff AG emphasises that the initiative may be resumed once demand increases.

This case underlines a broader challenge for the PtX sector: although renewable hydrogen, synthetic fuels and other PtX products are essential for achieving climate and energy goals, investment decisions still depend heavily on market signals, regulatory frameworks and long-term demand visibility.

To unlock the full potential of Power-to-X technologies, coordinated action from industry, policymakers and infrastructure providers remains essential. This is and remains our mission at SPIN.

Source: punkt4.info – “EBS Wasserstoff AG stellt vorerst keinen Wasserstoff in Seewen her”