Lhyfe, a French producer of renewable hydrogen, has inaugurated a 10 MW industrial facility in Schwäbisch Gmünd, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, marking its first commercial deployment in Germany. This unit, with a production capacity of 4 tonnes per day, becomes the country’s largest site dedicated to bulk green hydrogen distribution.
Industrial-scale production on a one-hectare site
The plant operates through electrolysis of water powered exclusively by renewable electricity. To ensure energy origin, Lhyfe signed long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with local suppliers, including EDP Renováveis (EDPR). Equipment has been designed as modular containerised units to optimise land use and integrate the full hydrogen process from water treatment to cylinder filling.
Hydrogen is collected onsite by delivery trucks, known as “tube trailers”, which distribute it to clients without requiring localised production infrastructure.
Supplying regional fuelling stations and industries
The green hydrogen produced in Schwäbisch Gmünd is intended for heavy-duty transport operators and local industries. A first contract has been signed with H2 MOBILITY, a leading hydrogen refuelling station operator, to supply regional stations. A new refuelling station is also planned near the production site.
For industrial use, this source offers an alternative to natural gas or grey hydrogen, particularly in the chemical, steel, and glass sectors. The facility will also supply the future H2-Aspen industrial zone, currently under development.
RFNBO certification and public financial support
In September 2025, the site received RFNBO (Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin) certification, the most stringent EU standard regarding origin and traceability of green hydrogen under the Renewable Energy Directive. This certification allows clients to access national and European support mechanisms linked to sustainability.
The project was co-funded with EUR2.1mn ($2.28mn) by the state of Baden-Württemberg, and EUR4.3mn ($4.67mn) by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), under the H2-Wandel programme.
An established logistics network in Germany
Lhyfe has operated in Germany since 2020, including a pilot project for Deutsche Bahn in Baden-Württemberg. In 2023, it began commercial deliveries of green hydrogen, relying on an internal logistics network with a fleet of 70 trucks, each capable of carrying between 380 and 1,000 kg.
In 2024, Lhyfe completed more than 470 deliveries across the continent, achieving a 99 % service rate. The Schwäbisch Gmünd site is the company’s fourth production unit in Europe, and its first outside France, strengthening its strategic presence and capacity to meet growing regional demand.
