Lhyfe and Arec Occitanie have inaugurated the Lhyfe Occitanie site, one of France's largest green and renewable hydrogen production sites.

The 5-MW Occitanie site will produce up to 2 tonnes of green and renewable hydrogen per day, with the possibility of further ramping up production to keep pace with changing uses and need.

The production facility, which is 20 per cent owned by Arec Occitanie and 80 per cent owned by Lhyfe, is situated in the Triangle Business Park in Bessières, South of France. It is scheduled to start commercial operations in the first half of 2024.

Lhyfe Occitanie hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable electricity. Power purchase agreements have been signed with renewable electricity producers, including VSB Energies Nouvelles and Kallista Energy to ensure the power supply.

Lhyfe Occitanie will support the region's €150-million green hydrogen plan, launching concrete development projects under the Occitanie H2 Corridor initiative, part of the North-South European hydrogen corridor project aimed at decarbonising goods and passenger transport.

Lhyfe Occitanie could also deliver other refuelling stations in the region. The project's scalable production capacity can meet the green and renewable hydrogen needs of industry, transport/logistics providers, and local authorities wishing to rapidly decarbonise their mobility and processes.

Matthieu Guesné, Founder and CEO of Lhyfe, said: "We are there! Our third site – our first in the South of France – is ready to start operating."

The hydrogen produced in Bessières will enable Lhyfe to transport tonnes of goods and thousands of people in the region, without emitting CO2.

"We’re very proud to be part of this ambitious initiative by the Occitanie region, which was one of the first to recognise the potential of hydrogen."

Alongside the H2 Corridor project, Lhyfe will now be working with the region’s many mobility and industry players who want to make the switch to hydrogen.