At Hyvolution 2024, president of the Regional Council of Burgundy-Franche-Comté, Marie-Guite Dufay, announced the launch of the ISTHY Project. Europe’s first test site dedicated to hydrogen storage technologies will see the light of day thanks to a partnership between the Burgundy-Franche-Comté Region, IntHy and Bureau Véritas.
ISTHY is one of the region’s emblematic projects. And is part of the Investments for the Future Programme (PIA in French), set by the state to co-finance innovative projects. Towards the end of 2024, tests and certifications will be carried out at the centre in the territory of Grand Belfort on behalf of international carmakers, equipment manufacturers and industrialists, with the utmost level of independence and impartiality. The project was initiated by Rougeot Energie, with support from the Burgundy-Franche-Comté Region and the Fonds de Revitalisation Industrielle. However, in the meantime, the activity has been taken over by IntHy, hydrogen and renewable energy producer and supplier of low-carbon mobility solutions.
A tool to cover all kinds of mobility
While existing facilities can only carry out very limited development or certification tests, ISTHY will make it possible to carry out development and manufacturing tests and guarantee the certification of high-volume tanks (up to 1 400 litres) intended for mobility applications. David Carle, Senior Vice-President at Bureau Veritas, states that the scale of the project makes it “unique” in Europe. Just as the company, member of the Hydrogen Council, has created a centre of excellence dedicated to hydrogen and its derivatives, Carle emphasises: “this additional initiative further reinforces our commitment to supporting our customers’ conscious progress and to building a work of trust”.
According to Dominique Darne, IntHy President, this association “will enable France to equip itself with a unique testing and certification tool that is key to the road, sea and rail hydrogen mobility industry”.
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Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Mariem Ben Tili
