Lhyfe, a producer of green and renewable hydrogen, has completed its first citizen fundraising campaign, totalling €2.5mn ($2.7mn) collected from individuals through the Lita.co platform. This marks the first initiative of its kind in this sector in Europe. Subscribers, whose individual investments ranged from €300 to €75,000, gain access to fixed-yield bonds and thus contribute directly to the financing of four sites in France and Germany.
Unprecedented support from the public
The campaign attracted nearly 1,200 investors, a figure significantly higher than the average usually observed for this type of fundraising. The operation confirms the growing public interest in green hydrogen production solutions and new funding models in the energy sector. Lhyfe’s approach aims to involve the public in its projects while diversifying its sources of funding and strengthening its local roots.
In 2024, Lhyfe quadrupled its revenue compared to the previous year, reaching €5.1mn ($5.5mn). The company operates four onshore production sites located in France and Germany, with a total installed electrolysis capacity of over 20 MW, enabling daily production of up to nine tonnes of green hydrogen.
Deployment and diversification of financial resources
To support the ramp-up of its sites, Lhyfe continues a financing strategy that combines equity, subsidies, and bank loans. Since its creation in 2017, the company has raised nearly €184mn ($198mn) in equity, relying on the support of international partners and long-standing investors. The company has also secured around €240mn ($258mn) in subsidies to support its projects, including €149mn for the development of a 100 MW site near Le Havre.
Lhyfe has also used corporate bank financing, raising €25mn ($27mn) in 2023 and closing a €53mn ($57mn) project financing round in April 2025 with several financial partners. This multi-source approach allows the company to secure its projects in a context of strong international competition in the green hydrogen market.
An expanding sector
The European Union aims for a green hydrogen production capacity of 40 GW by 2030. In this context, the development of players like Lhyfe contributes to building an industrial sector capable of meeting the growing demand from the mobility and industry sectors. According to Lhyfe’s management, citizen involvement in financing represents a lever to strengthen energy sovereignty and local reindustrialisation.
The company states it is continuing its efforts to consolidate its position in the European green hydrogen market, while continuing to diversify its financing methods. “We believe it is relevant that citizens have the opportunity to become actors in the development of this new energy vector,” said Matthieu Guesné, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lhyfe.
