TotalEnergies and Engie have announced a significant increase in green hydrogen production at their Masshylia biorefinery project in La Mède near Marseille. Initially planned for a production of 5 to 15 tons per day, the production capacity will triple with the installation of a 125 MW electrolyser. The partners are now aiming to produce 50 tons of renewable, low-carbon hydrogen per day. This quantity will cover the entire agrofuel needs of the refinery, thus avoiding more than 100,000 tons of carbon emissions per year.
A re-scaling of the project requires additional studies and new infrastructure, which pushes the commissioning to 2026 at the latest. Applications for subsidies have been submitted to the French and European authorities to support the project financially.
France on the way to renewable, low-carbon hydrogen production
Green hydrogen produced from photovoltaic electricity is considered a key element of the energy transition. In France, players in the renewable and low-carbon hydrogen industry have reached a production capacity of 13 MW in 2022. According to the National Hydrogen Strategy, France is aiming for a production of 6,500 MW by 2030, i.e. a production potential of approximately 1.07 million tons. The Masshylia project, developed by TotalEnergies and Engie, is part of this energy transition process.
There are still steps to be taken before the project can be launched. However, the potential for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production in France is promising. The projects underway could enable France to exceed its 2030 target for renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production.
