Lhyfe and AREC Occitanie have announced the start of construction of their new production facility in Bessières, Haute-Garonne, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
The new plant is one of the essential components of the Occitanie H2 Corridor project, which aims to decarbonise goods and passenger transport in the region.
The new production site will be located in the Triangle business park in Bessières, covering approximately 8,000 sq. metres of land, and will have the capacity to produce two tonnes of green and renewable hydrogen a day, which is equivalent to a generating capacity of 5 MW. The plant is 80% funded by Lhyfe and 20% by AREC Occitanie, with the construction works having just begun, and commissioning is scheduled for December 2023.
The Lhyfe Occitanie project was chosen by the Occitanie Region in late 2021 as part of its H2 Corridor scheme, and the financing agreement for the project was signed in November 2022. The Occitanie Region is contributing €5.9 million to support the site’s creation, with €4.1 million as a repayable advance and €1.89 million in grants.
The project is a key step towards the decarbonisation of goods and passenger transport and industry in the region. The Occitanie H2 Corridor is part of the North-South European hydrogen corridor project, which aims to decarbonise goods and passenger transport on an axis running between the Mediterranean and the North Sea.
The plant will supply green and renewable hydrogen to trucks, coaches, and other fuel cell vehicles on the Albi-Toulouse route. Additionally, the plant’s scalable production capacity will also meet the hydrogen needs of industries like aeronautics, equipment manufacturing, logistics providers, and local authorities in the area looking to decarbonise their mobility and/or processes.
One of the objectives of the Occitanie H2 Corridor project is to have two renewable hydrogen production facilities operational by the end of 2024, producing a total of six tonnes of output a day to start, with seven hydrogen fuel stations delivering 600 to 1 200 kg a day, 40 hydrogen-powered trucks, 62 refrigerated trailers/units, and 15 regional interurban buses retrofit to run on hydrogen.
Lhyfe Occitanie promotes a short supply chain logic with energy produced and consumed locally, delivering its hydrogen within a radius of 200 kilometres.
The project represents a significant opportunity to achieve decarbonisation goals in Occitanie, contributing to the region’s sustainable development objectives. However, challenges may arise, such as ensuring that the production of green hydrogen is cost-effective, and ensuring that the hydrogen infrastructure and transportation networks are in place to support its widespread use.
Overall, Lhyfe Occitanie is an essential component of the Occitanie H2 Corridor project, a key initiative that will help decarbonise transport modes and industry across the region, while also promoting the adoption of green hydrogen technology.
