"Green hydrogen" is presented as the fuel of tomorrow, capable of ultimately avoiding the emission of 250,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.

In France, seven billion euros will be devoted to this sector over ten years, including two injected quickly to help build a French sector, which is already emerging. 

This is one of the main challenges for developing hydrogen in France: producing it in a clean way, without fossil fuels, as is mostly the case for the moment.

"Green" hydrogen has been placed at the center of the plan launched by the government last year, and 7 billion euros will be invested by 2030. Among the leading French companies, there is Air Liquide, a giant of gases for industry, which announced Tuesday the start-up of the largest green hydrogen production center in the world, located in Canada.

But in France too, projects are multiplying.

Avoid the emission of 250,000 tonnes of CO2 per year

Air Liquide has just invested heavily in a young company, H2V Normandy, which has developed a project for a plant to manufacture hydrogen by electrolysis of water.

This is how we get green hydrogen, by breaking a water molecule with electricity.

A project that would make it possible to change scale significantly and ultimately avoid the emission of 250,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.

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The beginning of a French sector is therefore taking shape.

Especially since Total and Engie have just launched the Masshylia project, an electrolyser which will produce, in 2024, up to 15 tonnes of green hydrogen per day. 

"One of the means to fight against climate change"

By 2030, the current capacity will be multiplied by 1,000, also underlines Philippe Boucly, president of France Hydrogen: "Hydrogen has truly entered the panoply of means to fight against climate change. It simultaneously decarbonises everyone. segments of the economy, but also to facilitate the integration of renewable energies into the energy system ". 

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To support this development, a draft order was launched by the government at the start of the year, with the aim of ensuring the traceability of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen.