Question 1

What is Hydrospider's business plan?

Accepted Answer

Hydrospider (HSP) sees market opportunities in the production and distribution of green hydrogen for mobility. The current focus is on heavy mobility (trucks), where there is an expected potential in Switzerland of 2,000 trucks by 2030.

A unique implementation initiative has been running in Switzerland for the past two years, which aims to decarbonise heavy transport across all sectors. More than 20 operators of fuel cell electric trucks have already completed more than 10 million kilometers with the almost 50 CO2-free H2 trucks and have thus saved more than 7'700 tons of CO2 (2025).

Question 2

Is Hydrospider planning to build additional production facilities in Switzerland?

Accepted Answer

In order to further expand the hydrogen mobility system, Hydrospider is now planning to build another plant in the immediate vicinity of its run-of-river power plant in Niedergösgen to produce up to 2,000 t of green hydrogen annually, thereby making a further contribution to the decarbonization of the mobility sector in Switzerland afford. The maximum planned electrolysis output of 15 MW enables the operation of an additional 300-400 emission-free H2 trucks.

The approval process was started by the authorities at the beginning of 2023.

Question 3

Are further hydrogen filling stations (HRS) planned in Switzerland in the next few years?

Accepted Answer

HSP is neither involved in the construction of hydrogen filling stations (HRS) nor does the company operate them. HSP supplies the respective HRS of its business partners with green hydrogen. There are currently 18 HRS in operation (2025). For all further information regarding HRS planning, profitability and expansion, the support association H2 Mobility Switzerland is the contact person (. h(https://h2mobilitaet.ch/)ttps://h2mobilitaet.ch/)(https://h2mobilitaet.ch/).

Question 4

How much H2 is produced by the facility in Gösgen?

Accepted Answer

Our production facility in Niedergösgen has the capacity to supply approx. 40 to 50 trucks. In order to further develop heavy mobility with green hydrogen, production capacity in Switzerland must be significantly expanded.

Question 5

How has demand for H2 developed in recent years? What will demand look like in the future?

Accepted Answer

Before 2020, there was no demand for green hydrogen for heavy mobility. At the beginning of Q1 2023, 47 H2 trucks are in use in Switzerland, which represents significant growth. Up to 2,000 H2 trucks are expected to be in use in Switzerland by 2030, which will massively increase the demand for green hydrogen.

Question 6

Why does HSP focus on heavy traffic?

Accepted Answer

Demand is currently greatest for heavy mobility and this is where Hydrospider sees the best business opportunities and therefore the greatest potential for decarbonizing mobility in Switzerland. Such a decarbonization of heavy transport is not easy and green hydrogen is very suitable for this.

Question 7

How does HSP feel about hydrogen cars? Are there any projects planned in this area?

Accepted Answer

Many HRS are also equipped for refueling cars. However, the construction and design of the respective HRS is the responsibility of the HRS operator and not of HSP. For all further information regarding HRS planning and expansion, the support association H2 Mobility Switzerland is the contact person (https://h2mobilitaet.ch/)(https://h2mobilitaet.ch/).(https://h2mobilitaet.ch/)

Question 8

The expansion of hydrogen mobility often encounters the “chicken and egg problem”. How was this resolved in Switzerland?

Accepted Answer

The parallel expansion and coordination between the respective players in the Swiss H2 ecosystem (H2 truck importers, H2 producers and HRS operators) is central so that an efficient and growth-capable H2 ecosystem can be established in Switzerland. In Switzerland, good interaction between all players has made this parallel growth of H2 production, HRS and H2 trucks possible.

Question 9

In what other areas can HSP imagine using green H2?

Accepted Answer

In principle, green hydrogen can make a valuable contribution to decarbonization, particularly in the areas of mobility, industry and buildings. In addition to these areas, energy can also be stored in the form of hydrogen and thus contribute to the country's energy supply security. At the moment, HSP is primarily focusing on heavy mobility.

Question 10

Why should you switch to a hydrogen car?

Accepted Answer

From the CO2-free electric drive to refueling in just a few minutes and the range of more than 800 km, there are many good reasons to switch to a vehicle with hydrogen electric drive. The pure fuel costs are still competitive with conventional, comparable vehicles despite increases in energy and hydrogen prices.

Question 11

Is the H2 ecosystem supported by the federal government since H2 trucks are exempt from the HVF?

Accepted Answer

The distance-related heavy vehicle fee (HVF) was levied to tax emissions caused by fossil-fuel heavy vehicles. The HVF therefore does not have the character of a subsidy, but is a performance-related tax for heavy transport, which causes high emissions. Hydrogen and battery-powered trucks cause no emissions and are therefore exempt from the HVF. This means that an H2 truck can achieve comparable full costs per kilometer driven compared to a diesel truck.

Question 12

Which by-products occur during electrolysis and how are they used?

Accepted Answer

The two byproducts are oxygen (O2) and heat. The byproducts are not used in Gösgen, but this will be the case in the future with larger projects.

Question 13

Are there other methods for obtaining green H2?

Accepted Answer

In addition to electrolysis with green electricity, there is also pyrolysis of biomass, for example - a process that could also be used in Switzerland in the future. There are also many other processes for producing non-green hydrogen.

Question 14

How can the operation of the facility in Gösgen be optimized?

Accepted Answer

The top requirement for the system is to cover customer consumption. Under this condition, the production of the system can be optimized by using it when green electricity can be procured at the cheapest price.

Question 15

To produce green H2 you first need green electricity. Would there be enough energy sources to run a large proportion of traffic with green H2 in the future?

Accepted Answer

For the long-term success of mobility with green H2, electricity production capacity from renewable energies must also be expanded in Switzerland. The consumption of 1,600 H2 trucks corresponds to the installed capacity of approx. 100 MW of H2 electrolysis.

Question 16

How is the hydrogen transported from the production site to the H2 filling stations?

Accepted Answer

For transport, the gaseous hydrogen is compressed to 350 bar and filled into special storage containers. This creates a system of swap containers that are filled at the production site and then exchanged directly at the HRS. The hydrogen is stored tightly in the containers and there are no losses during transport to the HRS. The container can be transported by road or by train.
Theoretically, H2 can also be transported in pipelines as long as the infrastructure is retrofitted or newly built. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for existing natural gas pipelines and is therefore not feasible in the short term.

Question 17

Why did HSP decide to store pressure at 350 bar?

Accepted Answer

This technological decision is due to the physical properties of the gas containers and the free space in the container.

Question 18

What changes regarding H2 does HSP expect as a result of political regulations?

Accepted Answer

HSP is committed to emission-free mobility in Switzerland. The company advocates that the necessary regulatory measures be implemented as quickly as possible so that decarbonization can succeed effectively.

Question 19

Where does HSP see the advantages of fuel cells?

Accepted Answer

• High range (400-600km for trucks, up to 800km for cars)
 • Climate neutrality (closed production cycle)
 • Emission-free (only water vapor and waste heat are produced)
 • Recyclability and conservation of natural resources
 • Short refueling time compared to battery-operated cars
 • Quiet driving compared to a combustion engine
 • No discharge at standstill
 • Can also be used for households that do not have a parking garage or electricity columns

Question 20

Does hydrogen production and its transport involve risks?

Accepted Answer

High legal safety requirements are placed on the installation, maintenance and operation of H2 systems. This means that known risk factors can be reliably limited and the entire H2 value chain can be easily controlled.

Question 21

Are hydrogen cars dangerous?

Accepted Answer

The international automobile manufacturers have carried out intensive accident and crash tests over many years. Their results show that hydrogen vehicles cannot be classified as more dangerous than other battery-powered or internal combustion engine vehicles. This opinion is also shared by science.

Hydrogen only develops an explosive effect when an H2/O2 mixture with at least four percent O2 content is created. However, hydrogen, which is lighter than air, is so volatile that it escapes into the atmosphere before such a mixture can form.