EDF launches a "hydrogen plan" to become one of the European leaders in the sector by 2030

Europe 1 with AFP 9:45 p.m., April 13, 2022, modified at 9:46 p.m., April 13, 2022

EDF launched a "hydrogen plan" on Wednesday to become "one of the leaders" in low-carbon hydrogen production in Europe by 2030, with an investment of two to three billion euros "co-financed" by the energy company .

These projects "will be developed and co-financed within the framework of industrial partnerships and benefiting from national and European support mechanisms", specified the group.

450,000 tons of hydrogen and save 3 million tons of carbon

EDF intends to specifically extend its low-carbon electricity generation fleet - nuclear and renewable - to generate hydrogen by water electrolysis process through its dedicated subsidiary Hynamics.

"Three gigawatts (GW) will make it possible to produce 450,000 tonnes of hydrogen each year and save 3 million tonnes of carbon. 3 Mt of carbon, that represents half of maritime traffic" Franco-international, said during a press conference Alexandre Perra, Executive Director of Innovation, Corporate Responsibility and Strategy at EDF.

"We are aiming to produce 100% low-carbon hydrogen, which will be the vector for achieving carbon neutrality for the most difficult to decarbonize uses", industries or heavy mobility, said Alexandre Perra.

Today, most of the 80 million tonnes of hydrogen produced worldwide are produced from fossil fuels, especially gas.

"The production of 100% low-carbon hydrogen is not science fiction, we already have projects in operation", indicated Christelle Rouillé, general manager of Hynamics.

In particular, she recalled the start of production in Auxerre of hydrogen for the first five buses in the agglomeration operating with this energy.

“We aim to grow this first installation, in particular through the arrival of hydrogen trains”, which will soon arrive in France, she added.

Another partnership, with the cement manufacturer Vicat in Isère, aims to produce e-methanol for the maritime world, from the CO2 emitted by the smoke from the cement plant and the hydrogen produced nearby.

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About sixty projects around the world

In all, according to Alexandre Perra, EDF "has 1 GW of projects that are in the pipeline", spread over around sixty projects around the world.

EDF also took stock of plans announced to develop renewable energies, solar and wind in particular.

"The group invested nearly two billion euros in renewable energies last year," said Bruno Bensasson, CEO of EDF Renewables, referring to an "acceleration" in the growth of this activity, which he intends to continue. despite a "complicated" financial situation for EDF.

"With regard to EDF Renewables, we will be able to increase sharply, to almost 30%, our development and investment expenditure, it is a very clear testimony to the group's investment in this area", he said. -he says.

The group, which expects a dip in its performance in 2022, must deal with problems in its nuclear production and government measures to limit the rise in electricity bills.

Its gross operating surplus (Ebitda) should be reduced by more than 26 billion euros in the 2022 financial year, which has decided the State, its main shareholder, to get its hands on the portfolio, via a capital increase. this spring, to "secure its short- and medium-term financing capacity".