Green hydrogen is at the heart of the ecological transition. In fact, on September 8, 2020, the French government announced a strategy for the development of hydrogen. Even if most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels. New, more sustainable and non-polluting alternatives exist, thanks in particular to water electrolysis. The production of this energy, which consumes a lot of fresh water, is currently the main obstacle to its expansion. The Nantes-based hydrogen company Lhyfe has therefore decided to set up a research and development center in this field, and to participate in the creation of the first industrial production site for green hydrogen.
The creation of a green hydrogen plant in Vendée
Construction of the 700 m2 green hydrogen plant, located at the foot of the Bouin wind farm in Vendée, will start in 2021, and will be powered by wind energy – a first in the field. When the wind turbines were commissioned in 2003, the local authority signed a 15-year feed-in guarantee contract with EDF. Today, the city is free to use this energy.
Substantial government support
The H2Ouest project, which began in July 2020, has received financial support from the French government and the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie). This year, the French government has earmarked €80 million for 19 hydrogen development initiatives in France. Alain Leboeuf, Chairman of Vendée Energie, told France 3:
“The first brave souls to want to buy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles should be helped. Providing such transport is a political act for communities.”
The project is supported by Métropole du Mans, the Automobile club de l’Ouest, the Syndicat de l’énergie de Vendée, SyDEV, and Vendée Energie. Eventually, they hope to export green hydrogen to other regions.
Supplying electricity to vehicles
Hydrogen production will enable local authorities in the Vendée to equip themselves with hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2021. La Roche-sur-Yon and Les Sables d’Olonne are already interested in purchasing hydrogen-powered buses, while Challans and Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie are interested in purchasing hydrogen-powered refuse collection vehicles.
Funding for hydrogen production research
Next to the site, Lhyfe will create a research and development center dedicated to offshore hydrogen production. The company plans to invest 7.5 million euros in research over the next three years. According to Ouest France, Bpifrance will support these innovations up to 50%.
With these various projects, the company hopes to become the world’s leading hydrogen production company. The company has also opened its first international subsidiary, in Germany. The start of a series of major deployments for the growing company.
