A historic energy hub with potential for the future. We are located right at the heart of Laufenburg – the birthplace of the European interconnected grid and the oldest and most important electricity hub in Europe.
More than 65 years ago, a pioneering technical achievement took place in the Swiss border town of Laufenburg in the canton of Aargau, laying the foundation for today's European electricity grid. This historic event, known as the «Star of Laufenburg», revolutionized cross-border energy supply and made Laufenburg the central hub of the European electricity infrastructure.
Until the middle of the 20th century, Europe had numerous national power grids that operated largely independently of one another. Although the power plants in Switzerland, Germany and France were technically advanced, there was no overarching connection between the systems. This led to inefficient use of energy, unstable frequencies and limited security of supply.
The idea was simple but revolutionary: a common power grid that would stabilize electricity flows across national borders and enable a more reliable energy supply. However, implementation was technically challenging. The three countries used different frequency regulations and synchronizing their grids posed a major challenge.
The historic breakthrough came on January 17, 1958, at the Laufenburg substation. Engineers from Elektrizitätsgesellschaft Laufenburg (EGL) achieved the seemingly impossible: the synchronized connection of the power grids of Germany, France and Switzerland.
The hub they created enabled stable and efficient cross-border electricity distribution for the first time - a concept that is now the global standard. The star-shaped grid structure that was created was given the symbolic name “Star of Laufenburg” and became the epitome of European energy cooperation.
The successful three-country interconnection was just the beginning. The model of cross-border electricity interconnection quickly found imitators. Other European countries joined in the following decades, creating an increasingly dense energy network. Today, the European electricity grid is the largest synchronized network in the world. It covers almost all European countries, contributes significantly to security of supply, grid stability and the efficient use of renewable energies and represents an essential infrastructure for the European energy transition.
At this historic location, we are now writing the next chapter in energy history - with innovative solutions to the challenges of the energy transition and climate change. A simple idea, but as revolutionary as it was back then.
The world's largest and most modern redox flow battery storage facility is being built in Laufenburg on a site covering more than 40,000 m². This energy system is complemented by a high-performance AI data center.
A pioneering redox flow battery storage facility is being built at the Technology Center Laufenburg, offering impressive sustainable, safe and fully recyclable technology. It supports the integration of renewable energies by storing surplus electricity and releasing it again when needed. This stabilizes the grid, reduces the risk of outages and strengthens the security of supply in Switzerland and Europe.
The world's first sovereign AI factory built to Swiss standards is being created as part of the Technology Center Laufenburg project. The FlexBase AI data center differs fundamentally from conventional data centers.
The project centers on a new building covering an area of over 40,000 m². Where a small switchgear facility once stood, a building unlike any other is now being constructed. It must meet the highest standards, demonstrate maximum stability, withstand high floor loads and at the same time be scalable and flexible. Every square meter counts and every kilogram is crucial to ensure that the overall project can realize its full potential.
