The AREC ÎDF (the Regional Climate and Energy Agency of the Île de France region) has just published a map with an update on hydrogen production and distribution projects. A useful overview ahead of the 2024 Olympics.

Aiming to answer the question on the dynamics of hydrogen production and distribution projects in the Paris Region, the document draws up a map of current projects and reviews the players involved, with a particular focus on mobility. It begins by pointing out that Paris has been playing a pioneering role in the deployment of stations and vehicles since 2015, with Hype helping to kick-start hydrogen mobility.

The AREC IDF reported that on 1 January 2024, there were 9 hydrogen distribution stations, including one also for production at Porte de Saint-Cloud. These stations have a combined capacity of 2.5 tonnes of hydrogen per day.

While the first small-capacity stations have closed (Les Ulis, MIN de Rungis, Place de l’Alma*), several new stations have opened in 2023. The most significant of these is the Hysetco station at Porte de Saint-Cloud, with a capacity of one tonne per day. Meanwhile, Hype has opened two stations at Issy-les-Moulineaux and Porte de Bercy, with a capacity of 200 kg per day each. The two taxi operators have also announced several stations due to open this summer before the Olympic Games. A temporary GCK Energy distribution station has also been installed at UTAC’s National Vehicle Approval Centre (CNRV in French) at Linas-Montlhéry, which is used for testing and approving retrofitted vehicles, such as hydrogen-powered HGVs and coaches.

A doubling vehicle fleet

By 1 January, at least 700 vehicles had been recorded. That’s half of the 1,320 vehicles France Hydrogène had registered for 2023. Most of these come from the taxi fleet, with 600 Toyota and Hyundai vehicles. There are also 50 commercial vehicles (Stellantis, Hyvia). There are also 7 buses (Solaris, Van Hool), 25 bikes and three-wheelers (Pragma) and even a few drones (Hylight, H3Dynamics). The fleet will double by the summer of 2024, with 500 new Toyota sedans, at least 150 LCVs, buses (including 47 Île-de-France Mobilités buses for Vallée Sud Hydrogène and H2 Créteil in 2025), refuse collection vehicles, 10 coaches, forklift trucks and the first freight and passenger ships (SOGESTRAN and others).

In terms of production, 3 sites are in operation with a 4.5 MW capacity: the Hysetco station at Porte de Saint-Cloud, the Hyvia site at Flins and an EDF test platform in Seine-et-Marne. However, several projects are under way to deploy between 30 and 50 MW of electrolysis capacity. There is also a massive hydrogen production project (20,000 tonnes a year) at the TotalEnergies biorefinery in Grandpuits, as part of the conversion to sustainable aviation fuels.

Lastly, as far as transport infrastructure is concerned, there are 4 major projects under construction (Air Liquide Normand’HY, 200 MW) or in the pipeline (Verso Energy – 350 MW, Engie – 250 MW, Lhyfe – 100 MW). As part of the European backbone, GRTgaz is looking into connecting the Île-de-France region to make it a hub for connections on three routes: Le Havre – Paris, Saint-Nazaire – Paris with AtlantHYc and Valenciennes – Paris with WHHYN.

*It is being renovated by Air Liquide and is due to reopen this year.

Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Mariem Ben Tili