Based out of Nantes, France, Lhyfe specialises in the production of green and renewable hydrogen.
Recently, the French Prime Minister has officially confirmed a €149M grant for its future green hydrogen production plant located near the Grand Canal of Le Havre.
The facility is expected to reach a capacity of up to 34 tonnes per day.
Named “Green Horizon”, the project was selected in 2022 by the European Commission as part of the third wave of IPCEI (Important Projects of Common European Interest) is dedicated to hydrogen.
In March 2024, the French government announced its decision to award this grant to Lhyfe, through Roland Lescure, then Minister Delegate for Industry and Energy, during a visit to Le Havre.
Matthieu Guesné, founder and CEO of Lhyfe says, “We are proud to receive this grant, which reflects a strong vote of confidence from the French government and the European Commission in an SME that is capable of innovating, meeting complex technological challenges, and rapidly turning its ambitions into reality. It also recognizes our ability to invest heavily and rally renowned international partners to our side.”
“By contributing to the decarbonisation of the Le Havre industrial-port area starting in 2029, the Green Horizon project marks a real turning point – one that is essential if we are to decarbonise our industrial uses on a large scale. With this project, Lhyfe will surpass the 100 MW milestone in installed electrolysis capacity: a true industrial leap forward,” adds Guesné.
Signed contract with Bpifrance
Lhyfe signed a contract with Bpifrance for public funding.
As a part of it, they will receive an initial advance of €18M by June 2025 to cover previous investments and start new phases of the project.
A second payment will follow based on achieving specific milestones, and further payments will be made as reimbursements for eligible expenses over four years, totaling up to €149M.
Lhyfe plans to produce up to 34 tonnes of green hydrogen daily near the Grand Canal du Havre in Normandy.
This facility will help decarbonise local industry and transportation. It will be located near Yara’s site in Le Havre, which supports Lhyfe’s plans.
The production site, covering 2.8 hectares in Gonfreville-l’Orcher, is expected to be completed by 2029 and will be one of the first large-scale green hydrogen plants in France and Europe.
Completing this project will show that producing hydrogen through water electrolysis is both feasible and economically viable.
Implementing such projects quickly is essential to prepare for larger facilities that meet ambitious targets for hydrogen capacity (4.5 GW aimed for France by 2030) and emission reductions set out in hydrogen and decarbonization strategies.
Lhyfe: Producer and supplier of green, renewable hydrogen
Lhyfe has been producing and delivering green hydrogen for over 4 years, with its first plant completed in 2021.
It now has 4 production sites in France and Germany and is developing numerous sites throughout Europe.
The French company supplies customers directly, with over 470 deliveries made in 2024 to around fifty clients across 8 European countries.
Lhyfe relies on a fleet of nearly 70 containers, one of the largest modern bulk hydrogen transport fleets in Europe, with a 99 per cent service rate.
Guesné on the French National Hydrogen Strategy, says “The release of the French National Hydrogen Strategy is excellent news for both the French and European markets. We’ve been looking forward to it for several months, and it now provides the clarity and long-term visibility that stakeholders across the hydrogen ecosystem need to make informed decisions and move forward. By setting a realistic production target of 4.5 GW by 2030, and supporting it with subsidies and a dedicated support mechanism for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen production, the French government is aligning its tools with its ambitions. France is home to major industry players, who will strengthen the entire value chain and position our country as the European leader in the sector.”
