Corsica Sole, an independent solar power producer in Europe, has signed a strategic partnership with Enapter, a German electrolyser manufacturer, and HENSOLDT Nexeya France, the French subsidiary of the international HENSOLDT group specializing in the integration of complex energy systems. The aim of this partnership is to convert the excess solar energy produced by the Folelli power plant into hydrogen, a first in France.
A 100% European partnership to accelerate the local energy transition
Corsica Sole plans to convert excess solar energy from the Folelli power plant into hydrogen. This project uses electrolyzers supplied by Enapter and the expertise of HENSOLDT Nexeya France for their integration with equipment for compressing and conditioning hydrogen in mobile tanks. The Folell’Hy project, whose first renewable hydrogen production and packaging unit is due to open in the second half of 2025, aims to produce 2 tonnes of hydrogen per year. The entire system will be directly connected to the existing Folelli solar power plant (12 MWp), and will have a storage capacity of around 100 kg of hydrogen.
Industrial applications and economic implications
This initiative will initially serve to meet the energy needs of the Lycée Maritime Professionnel in Bastia. The Folell’Hy project will also enable new uses to be tested and feedback to be accumulated with a view to the deployment of higher-capacity projects. By converting excess solar energy into hydrogen, Corsica Sole and its partners aim to optimize the use of local energy resources, reducing dependence on energy imports.
Jean-Gabriel STEINMETZ, Corsica Sole’s Director of New Markets, comments: “With the expertise of our European partners HENSOLDT Nexeya France and Enapter, we can be sure of a leading-edge technology that is unique in the hydrogen refueling and storage market.
A pilot project paving the way for future initiatives
The Folell’Hy project will convert excess solar energy into renewable hydrogen using Enapter electrolyzers with a total production capacity of 30 Nm3/h. The hydrogen generated can be used for a variety of industrial and mobility applications. This versatility helps create an energy solution that can be adapted to the island’s fluctuating needs, reinforcing its energy autonomy.
Folell’Hy is a commercial pilot project whose three players are paving the way for future, larger-scale initiatives. Corsica Sole is also positioning itself as a pioneer in the hydrogen sector in Corsica, working towards greater energy self-sufficiency for the island. By harnessing local energy resources to produce hydrogen, the island reduces its dependence on energy imports, ensuring long-term energy supply stability.
