The Aare power plant in Klingnau has been reliably producing electricity for almost 90 years.
From 2026, Axpo and AEW Energie AG will be renewing the turbines and generators, and investing CHF 71 million to do so. This will increase electricity production by around 11 per cent.
Klingnau Aare power plant (AKA)
The Klingnau Aare power plant (AKA) has been in operation since 1935 with an installed capacity of 43 MW. Since then, it has produced an average of 210 million kilowatt hours of renewable electricity per year.
The planned replacement of the three generators and the overhaul of the three turbines will further increase the high availability of the power plant.
In addition, the revised turbines will be able to process more water for electricity production. This will increase average annual production by around 11 per cent to 230 million kilowatt hours. This corresponds to the electricity requirements of over 55,000 four-person households.
Significant investment in renewable energies
Axpo and AEW Energie AG are investing around 71 million Swiss francs in the modernization
Axpo and AEW Energie AG are investing around 71 million Swiss francs in the modernization, thus underlining their commitment to security of supply and renewable energies.
Axpo invests large sums in the Swiss electricity infrastructure every year and once again covered around 40 per cent of Switzerland's electricity requirements in the 2023/24 financial year.
The focus of AEW's investments for security of supply in the areas of production and grid is in the canton of Aargau, where it supplies around 103,000 customers with electricity.
Modernization of AKA's production facilities
Due to their long service life, a fundamental modernization of AKA's production facilities has become necessary. From 2026, the three machine groups - consisting of turbines and generators - will be overhauled or replaced in stages. This will take around six years.
During this time, the power plant will remain in operation on a partially reduced basis. The Klingnau Aare power plant (AKA) will return to full operation from 2032. The AKA is a partner plant operated by Axpo (60%) and AEW Energie AG (40%). The concession was renewed in 2015 and runs for 60 years until 2075.
