Air Liquide announced that it is receiving support from the French State, subject to a final validation by the European Commission, to launch its Air Liquide Normand’Hy large scale renewable hydrogen production project.

This electrolyzer of an initial 200 MW capacity, which should provide renewable hydrogen to TotalEnergies’ Normandy refinery, will use Siemens Energy technology. This project will significantly contribute to the creation of a French and European low-carbon hydrogen sector and to the decarbonization of the Normandy industrial basin. It will also contribute to the development of heavy duty hydrogen mobility in this important industrial area.

The Air Liquide large-scale renewable hydrogen production by electrolysis project has applied to the Hydrogen Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI Hydrogen) program, with a requested financial support of 190 MM euros.

Air Liquide Normand’Hy will be located in Port-Jérôme, Normandy. It will be one of the first electrolyzers of this size in operation in the world, to decarbonize industry and mobility. It is planned to be commissioned in 2025. It will use Siemens Energy’s PEM technology, and will be built in the framework of the partnership announced between Air Liquide and Siemens Energy in February 2021. Air Liquide and Siemens Energy thus contribute to the rise of a European renewable hydrogen sector, with strong Franco-German roots.

Air Liquide is at the heart of a European renewable hydrogen production ecosystem, combining technology, renewable energy and applications. Air Liquide has signed an MOU with TotalEnergies aiming at the signing of a long term renewable Power Purchase Agreement for part of the needs of the Air Liquide Normand’Hy electrolyzer. By implementing this electrolyzer technology for the first time at this scale, the Air Liquide Normand’Hy project will be in a position to provide renewable hydrogen to the industrial companies of the Normandy basin and to contribute to the development of low-carbon heavy duty mobility on the Axe Seine.

The supply of renewable hydrogen will contribute to the decarbonization of the refinery industry in this important French industrial basin, in accordance with the RED2 regulation. Air Liquide has signed an MOU with TotalEnergies for the use of renewable hydrogen on its Gonfreville refinery. This refinery is connected to the local Air Liquide hydrogen network to which the new electrolyzer will also be connected.

Air Liquide Normand’Hy is part of a wider project to decarbonize the Normandy industrial basin. Air Liquide, Borealis, Esso S.A.F., TotalEnergies and Yara International have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in July 2021 aiming at developing a CO₂ capture and storage infrastructure in Normandy with the objective to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 3 MMtpy by 2030.