French flagship of hydrogen, Lhyfe obtains 150 million euros from the State to build a factory in Normandy

French start-up Lhyfe has received a generous state subsidy to produce green hydrogen on a large scale. She will be able to build a factory near Le Havre.

This is very good news for the French hydrogen production sector. The Lhyfe company, based in Nantes and founded in 2017 by Matthieu Guesné, announced Monday March 18, 2024 at the end of the day that it had received confirmation of substantial financial support from the French State. This could reach 149 million euros in subsidy. It should lead to the construction of a large-capacity green hydrogen production plant by 2028, near Le Havre, in Normandy.

State subsidy will help the French green hydrogen sector to develop

Supported by Lhyfe for more than two years and supported by the European Commission, the subsidy project was crucial for the development of the sector. Since 2021 and the inauguration of the first industrial green hydrogen production site in the world directly connected to a wind farm, the company has come a long way.

The Minister for Industry and Energy, Roland Lescure, took advantage of his trip to Le Havre this Monday as part of the 7^th meetings of the Seine Axis, to confirm the support of the French state.

Thanks to this XXL grant, Lhyfe’s project will be able to become a reality, and the company will be able to assert itself as a key player in the renewable hydrogen industry. It is already present in 12 European countries and employs 200 people, in addition to being listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

A capacity of 100 MW for the future Lhyfe factory

The start-up aims to produce up to 34 tonnes of green hydrogen per day, in the heart of the low-carbon industrial zone of Le Havre, with a land area of ​​2.8 hectares, in Gonfreville-l’Orcher. The site will be installed near the Yara factory in Le Havre and will see the light of day in 2028, if all goes well.

The constructed green hydrogen production plant will have an installed electrolysis capacity of 100 MW. “ The needs of the territory are present, massive, we can respond to them now with clean, mature and adapted technology », Reacted the president and CEO of Lhyfe, Matthieu Guesné.

The project is validated, the financing is “settled” or almost (the company’s partners must deliver their final, undoubtedly positive, financial investment decisions). It now remains for Lhyfe to receive operating authorizations and building permits.