Lhyfe and AREC Occitanie Unveil Green Hydrogen Production Facility

Lhyfe and AREC Occitanie, the regional energy and climate agency has inaugurated the Lhyfe Occitanie site. Carole Delga, the President of the Occitanie Region, graced the event, highlighting the significance of this green and renewable hydrogen production site in advancing the region's goals under the Occitanie H2 Corridor project. The project is designed to drive the decarbonization of goods and passenger transport. Lhyfe holds an 80% ownership stake in the Lhyfe Occitanie production site, with AREC Occitanie owning the remaining 20%. Commercial operations are set to commence in the first half of 2024.

Two years after the establishment of its initial site in the Pays de la Loire region, France, Lhyfe is unveiling two new production units in Occitanie and Brittany this month. This move underscores the company's commitment to large-scale industrial deployment, with five additional sites already in progress or expansion across Europe. The new Occitanie and Brittany sites, each boasting five times the production capacity of the historic facility, address the rising market demand for green and renewable hydrogen.

The inauguration of Lhyfe Occitanie coincides with a pivotal week for the Occitanie Region, as it lays the foundation for its ambitious €150 million 'Green Hydrogen' plan announced in 2019. With the unveiling of Lhyfe Occitanie, the region takes concrete steps toward implementing the projects selected under the Occitanie H2 Corridor initiative.

Located at the Triangle business park in Bessières, near Toulouse, Lhyfe Occitanie is positioned to produce up to 2 tons per day (tpd) of green and renewable hydrogen through electrolysis, translating to a production capacity of 5 megawatts. The facility has the flexibility to ramp up production to meet evolving demands. For perspective, 2 tons of hydrogen can propel a hydrogen truck for approximately 25,000 kilometers, emitting zero grams of CO2. Alternatively, this quantity can power a car to circumnavigate the earth five times or cover a distance of around 200,000 kilometers.

The hydrogen produced at Lhyfe Occitanie is generated through the electrolysis of water, utilizing renewable electricity. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contracts with renewable electricity producers, including VSB Energies Nouvelles and Kallista Energy, secure the necessary power supply.

Beyond transportation, Lhyfe Occitanie's scalable production capacity positions it to meet the green and renewable hydrogen needs of various sectors, including industry (such as aeronautics and equipment manufacturing), transport and logistics providers, and local authorities seeking rapid decarbonization of mobility and processes. The facility's adaptability and expansive capabilities underscore its pivotal role in driving sustainability across diverse sectors within the Occitanie region.