May 16, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Flexbase has begun construction on the Laufenburg Technology Center in Switzerland, which will combine a large battery energy storage system and a 480MW AI data center. The facility will feature a redox flow BESS with 1.6GW of capacity and 2.1GWh of storage, and is scheduled for completion in 2029. Total project costs are estimated at CHF 1–5.5 billion ($1.27–$7 billion).
By connecting to this facility, Flexbase said in 2024, “this allows the battery storage system to reach its maximum potential by contributing optimally to national and international grid stability, while at the same time minimising power transmission losses.”
Redox flow BESS systems store energy in liquid electrolytes held in separate tanks, where electrochemical reactions enable charging and discharging. Proponents say the technology is safer and more scalable than lithium-ion batteries because it is non-flammable and can be expanded simply by increasing tank size. At the Laufenburg site, excavation pits nearly 30 meters (98 ft) deep are being dug to house the large-scale system. Flexbase says the redox flow batteries could eventually supply electricity to up to 210,000 households for a full day.
The site will also include a large data center, which Flexbase has described as Switzerland’s “first sovereign AI factory.” The company previously said it would cover 600 sqm (6,500 sq ft), use liquid cooling, and stand at least 30 meters high to accommodate a waste heat system, though Südkurier reports this system has now been delayed until 2029. The Laufenburg Technology Center was originally planned as part of broader upgrades to Switzerland’s electricity grid to support rising renewable generation and growing demand.
