French PM confirms €149 million grant for Lhyfe’s green hydrogen plant near Le Havre

French Prime Minister confirms €149 million funding for Lhyfe’s green hydrogen plant near Le Havre

The French Prime Minister has officially approved a €149 million grant for Lhyfe’s upcoming green hydrogen production facility near the Grand Canal of Le Havre, a major industrial port area in Europe.

The project was chosen by the European Commission in 2022 as part of the third wave of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) focused on hydrogen. The French government announced its decision to provide the grant to Lhyfe in March 2024.

Lhyfe is set to receive an initial payment of €18 million by June 2025 to cover investments made since 2022 and kickstart the next phases of the project. Additional payments will be made in subsequent months based on meeting predefined milestones over a four-year period, totaling up to €149 million.

The Green Horizon project aims to produce 34 tonnes of green hydrogen per day and is scheduled for completion by 2029. It will be one of the first large-scale facilities producing decarbonized hydrogen through water electrolysis in France and Europe.

The plant will be situated near Yara’s facility in Le Havre, with the Norway-based company supporting Lhyfe’s project. Lhyfe has already secured the necessary permits and grid connections for the plant, which will primarily deliver hydrogen via pipeline to industrial customers.

Lhyfe has been supplying green hydrogen for over four years and plans to reach over 100 MW in installed electrolysis capacity with the Green Horizon project, contributing to the decarbonization of the Le Havre industrial-port area.

Additionally, Lhyfe has signed a contract with INOCEL to supply up to 140 tonnes of green hydrogen over four years for fuel cell testing. They have also partnered with Masdar to explore large-scale green hydrogen projects in Europe.

The funding from the French government and support from international partners highlight Lhyfe’s commitment to innovation and sustainability in the green hydrogen sector.