Air Liquide obtains financing from the French government, subject to final approval by the European Commission, to launch its large-scale renewable hydrogen generation project, Air Liquide Normand’Hy.
This electrolyzer, with an initial capacity of 200 MW, will use Siemens Energy technology to produce renewable hydrogen to TotalEnergies’ Normandy refinery. This project will make a substantial contribution to the development of a low-carbon hydrogen sector in France and Europe, as well as to the decarbonization of the Normandy industrial basin. Additionally, it will aid in the development of heavy-duty hydrogen mobility in this critical industrial sector.
Air Liquide has submitted an application to the Hydrogen Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI Hydrogen) initiative, requesting financial support in the amount of 190 million euros. Air Liquide applauds the French government’s willingness to assist the project by saving the required cash for its realization, subject to the outcome of the European Commission’s examination.
This electrolyzer project, dubbed Air Liquide Normand’Hy, will initially have a capacity of 200 MW and will be located in the Normandy town of Port-Jérôme. It will be one of the world’s first electrolyzers of this magnitude in operation, enabling industry and mobility to become carbon neutral. It is scheduled to open in 2025. It will utilize Siemens Energy’s Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology and will be constructed as part of Air Liquide’s partnership with Siemens Energy announced in February 2021. Thus, Air Liquide and Siemens Energy contribute to the development of a robust Franco-German renewable hydrogen sector in Europe.
Air Liquide is at the center of an ecosystem for sustainable hydrogen generation in Europe, bridging technology, renewable energy, and applications. Air Liquide and TotalEnergies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at concluding a long-term renewable Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a portion of the energy requirements of the Air Liquide Normand’Hy electrolyzer. By deploying this electrolyzer technology at this scale for the first time, the Air Liquide Normand’Hy project will be able to offer renewable hydrogen to the Normandy basin’s industrial firms and contribute to the development of low-carbon heavy-duty mobility on the Axe Seine.
Renewable hydrogen will help decarbonize the refinery industry in this significant French industrial area, as required by the RED2 law. Air Liquide and TotalEnergies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the use of renewable hydrogen at Air Liquide’s Gonfreville refinery. This refinery is connected to the local Air Liquide hydrogen network, which will also be connected to the new electrolyzer.
Air Liquide Normand’Hy is part of a larger effort to decarbonize the industrial basin of Normandy. In July 2021, Air Liquide, Borealis, Esso S.A.F., TotalEnergies, and Yara International signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at establishing a CO2 capture and storage infrastructure in Normandy with the goal of reducing CO2 emissions by up to 3 million tonnes per year by 2030.
Benoît Potier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Air Liquide group, stated: “I welcome the French State’s commitment to Air Liquide Normand’Hy. This support will allow the realization of a major and innovative large-scale renewable hydrogen production project. It will also contribute to the creation of a competitive European hydrogen sector, which we want to spearhead with our partner Siemens Energy.
“Air Liquide Normand’Hy is at the heart of a vast ecosystem whose ambition is to decarbonize the Normandy industrial basin, notably by giving access to a low-carbon hydrogen network to major industrial companies such as TotalEnergies, but also by contributing to the development of low-carbon heavy duty mobility on the Axe Seine. The creation of that ecosystem with our partners demonstrates the will and the capacity of industrial companies to bring concrete solutions to the fight against global warming. This is in line with our Sustainable Development strategy, which aims not only at reducing our emissions but also at providing a range of solutions to decarbonize the industry.”
