The new hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing and assembly platform of Alstom’s subsidiary Helion Hydrogen Power, which was bought from Areva in April 2021, was launched on December 10 in Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône) by Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud, President of Alstom France.

“We put roughly 6 million euros into this site, which strengthens our position in the region. In France and across the world, we passionately believe in hydrogen for rail, marine, and stationary uses. “With this new technology, we can stay on the cutting edge of innovation,” he adds.

The complete production line for stack cores (stacks) and sub-systems (FC Racks) is 1,200 m2 and is certified as “100% manufactured in France.” FC Racks are assembled and integrated in a 200-square-meter structure. Helion Hydrogen Power has a daily capacity of four fuel cell cores and one subsystem. The partially automated facility has the potential to boost manufacturing capacity by tenfold, or 800 stacks each year at a power of roughly 30 MW.

“Over the last 20 years, more than 100 million euros have been invested in R&D to create technology that is now in its fifth generation in order to fulfill high power needs. It’s built on the backs of 40 patents. “From 2023 to 2026, we are initiating a new R&D program for the sixth generation,” says Vincent Mahéo, President of Helion Hydrogen Power.

Jean-Baptiste Eyméoud used the occasion to unveil a 6,500 m2 building project, still in Aix-en-Provence, that will bring together the Helion and Alstom teams, spread between Aix and Vitrolles, between R&D, engineering, and production, totaling 200 employees, a workforce that is expected to grow in the coming years. This facility, which will comprise offices and workshops and will be built on 13,000 m2 of land, is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2023. The size of the investment has yet to be determined, but Alstom’s president believes it to be “a few millions of euros.”