ewb, Hyundai, and GRZ Launch Switzerland’s First Grid-Integrated Hydrogen Power System

In a landmark project for Switzerland’s energy transition, GRZ partnered with Energie Wasser Bern and Hyundai Motor Company to deploy a hydrogen-based power-to-power system, enabling 100% renewable EV fast-charging.

Industry

Public Utility & E-Mobility

Location

Bern, Switzerland

Application

Grid Stabilization & EV Charging

Product

DASH Power 175-900

DASH

Power

February 1, 2024

Energie Wasser Bern (ewb), the utility for Switzerland’s capital, sought an innovative solution to manage the grid impact of high-demand EV fast-chargers. At their Forsthaus energy center—a major renewable hub combining waste-to-energy, biomass, and solar generation—ewb partnered with GRZ and Hyundai Motor Company to launch a pioneering pilot project. GRZ’s DASH Power system was deployed to store surplus solar energy as green hydrogen, providing a reliable, emissions-free power source to stabilize the grid and support the expansion of sustainable mobility.

The Challenge: The Unstable Grid vs. The EV Revolution

As a leader in sustainable energy, ewb faced a critical challenge: the volatile, high-power demand of public EV fast-chargers was putting a strain on the city’s power grid. The goal was to find a clean energy solution that could store surplus solar power and deploy it on demand, creating a stable, emissions-free charging hub without relying on fossil fuels or requiring costly grid reinforcements.

Why hydrogen, not batteries?

Hydrogen offers long-duration storage without degradation, making it ideal for buffering the large, unpredictable peaks created by fast-charging stations.

The Solution: A Pioneering Partnership for a Groundbreaking System

Solving this challenge required a collaboration of best-in-class expertise. The project, based at ewb’s Forsthaus energy center, brought together three key innovators:

Energie Wasser Bern (ewb): The visionary utility providing the grid integration and a real-world testing ground.
Hyundai Motor Company: The global technology leader providing the high-performance fuel cell converting hydrogen back to electricity.
GRZ Technologies: The Swiss expert providing the core of the system—the DASH Power 175-900, a containerized solid-state hydrogen storage solution.

Together, the partners demonstrated how hydrogen-based storage can complement urban grids by providing both long-duration energy shifting and peak load management.

The Results: A Blueprint for Urban Energy

This pilot installation serves as a scalable model for future EV charging hubs within urban distribution networks, demonstrating how utilities can integrate hydrogen systems without major infrastructure reinforcement.

*GRZ’s DASH Power system supplying ewb’s renewable EV fast-charging station in Bern.*

Key Outcomes

First in Switzerland

Pioneering Grid Integration

This project represents one of Switzerland’s first demonstrations of grid-integrated hydrogen fuel-cell buffering at a public utility—an important milestone for the national energy strategy.

Peak Load Shaving

Enhanced Grid Stability Without Reinforcement

The DASH Power system stores surplus solar energy and redeploys it during peak hours, reducing transformer stress, improving local grid stability, and helping ewb avoid costly grid upgrades at the charging site.

100% Emissions-Free

EV Charging on Renewable Hydrogen

By pairing local renewable generation with long-duration hydrogen storage, ewb created an EV fast-charging hub that delivers emissions-free energy reliably, even during periods of low solar output.

Could Your Project Benefit from a Proven Solution?

GRZ Technologies delivers hydrogen storage systems that are engineered for reliability, safety, and performance. Contact our experts to discuss your specific application.