HYDROGENE DE FRANCE: HDF Energy lays the first stone of its high-power hydrogen fuel cell plant in Blanquefort – 02/24/2023 at 16:10

Bordeaux, February 24, 2023

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Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) is very pleased to announce the launch of the construction of the world’s first plant for the mass production of high-power hydrogen fuel cells. A major technological and industrial advance for France, this factory, pre-notified PIIEC
[1]
, will supply the national and international markets for heavy mobility (rail and maritime) and electricity production for the networks. Established on the site of the former Ford factory in Blanquefort near Bordeaux, it will contribute to the reindustrialisation of the national and European territory, to the development of the local industrial fabric and to the export of French technology.

The laying of the first stone of the high-power fuel cell plant took place this Friday, February 24, 2023 in Blanquefort, in the presence of Damien Havard, CEO and founder of HDF Energy, Hanane El Hamraoui, industrial director, Etienne Guyot, prefect of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Gironde regions, Alain Rousset, president of the regional council of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Alain Anziani, president of Bordeaux Métropole, and Véronique Ferreira, mayor of Blanquefort.

An ambitious industrial project rooted in its territory

HDF Energy is setting up its 7,000 m² factory on a 4 ha plot purchased in Bordeaux Métropole, located on the site of the former Ford factory. Delivery of the building is scheduled for the end of 2023. The company’s head office will then be transferred to Blanquefort.

HDF plans to manufacture 1.5 MW fuel cells there when production starts in 2024, to gradually reach 10 MW of unit power. It is the world’s first mass production plant for high-power fuel cells. The export activity will represent 80% of the production volume.

In 2024, the production capacity will reach 100 MW of fuel cells per year, representing more than 100 direct jobs. HDF plans to build 70% of its supply chain at regional, national and European levels. Thus, the HDF Energy plant will contribute to the industrial revival of this emblematic regional site, by implementing 21st century technology.

These high-power fuel cells will serve the heavy mobility, maritime and rail markets, and the production of electricity for the networks. Indeed, the Company has already entered into several strategic partnerships for hydrogen freight locomotive projects as well as large ship propulsion projects and their auxiliary energy generation.

On the occasion of this event, HDF Energy also signed a memorandum of understanding with Teréga Solutions and Hype in order to cooperate in the development of hydrogen mobility in the metropolis of Bordeaux. The memorandum of understanding provides in particular for studying the launch of a joint venture intended to deploy green hydrogen distribution stations, in order to accelerate and consolidate the use of hydrogen mobility, heavy and light, in the region.

A pre-notified PIIEC project (Important Project of Common European Interest)

In October 2022, after two years of cooperation with State services, the French Government selected the HDF Energy project as an PIIEC and pre-notified the file to the European Commission. The Company is awaiting the Commission’s validation scheduled for this summer in order to be able to accelerate its industrial project and transform the plant into a gigafactory, thus generating more than 500 jobs in this regional industrial basin.

In addition, HDF Energy has benefited from historical and strong support from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region since 2018 for all of its activities, in the form of significant subsidies which have enabled the company to start its industrial activity.

An environmentally friendly factory

For its construction and operation, the plant is subject to BREEAM certification, an international standard for assessing the environmental impact of a building for more ecological architecture. The criteria that will be followed during the operation of the plant are: energy management, water management, waste recovery, access to sustainable transport and the health and well-being of the occupants. .

In addition, the fuel cell is a clean technology that only releases water vapour. The batteries have a lifespan of 20 years and the company has already anticipated their future recycling.

ABOUT HYDROGEN DE FRANCE (HDF Energy)

HDF Energy is a global pioneer in high power hydrogen power plants. The Company designs and develops power plants that produce non-intermittent, non-polluting renewable energy, day and night. In addition, HDF Energy organises, through dedicated project companies, their financing, construction and operation.

HDF is the designer of the Renewstable® power plants, its flagship model, multi-megawatt power plants producing continuous electricity from intermittent renewable energies (wind or solar) and massive storage of energy in the form of green hydrogen generated on place.

HDF Energy is also an industrialist who will mass-produce, from 2024, in its factory near Bordeaux, the most strategic component of its power plants: high-power fuel cells. Thanks to this industrial activity, HDF Energy, a major player in the production of electricity for networks, is also becoming a player in heavy, maritime and rail mobility. The company develops, with strategic partners, hydrogen freight locomotive projects as well as large ship propulsion projects and their auxiliary energy generation.

Present on five continents, HDF Energy is developing a business portfolio of more than 5 billion euros to date.

HDF Energy is listed on Compartment B of Euronext, a member of the “Euronext Tech Leaders” segment.

Read financial information on

Hydrogen from France

here :

www.hdf-energy.com

contacts

[1]

Important Project of Common European Interest

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