Following a record $2 billion order from a major car manufacturer earlier this year, the French group has announced the construction of the largest hydrogen storage production plant in the US. It will be located in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
Last May, the company’s management announced that it had received a mega-order from a US carmaker (read our article). Plastic Omnium is now entering a more operational phase. This future 200,000 square metre plant, with an annual production capacity of 100,000 high-pressure hydrogen tanks, will come into service at the end of 2026. Plastic Omnium will design and produce tanks for zero-emission mobility i.e heavy and commercial vehicles. In addition, a state-of-the-art validation and prototyping laboratory will be commissioned to guarantee product safety and customer support.
A symbolic site at the heart of the automotive industry
“We are excited to launch the construction of our first hydrogen mega-plant in the United States, in Michigan, the heart of the automotive industry. This investment follows Plastic Omnium’s record $2 billion order from a major U.S. automaker earlier this year, which confirms our leadership as a key technology partner for US sustainable mobility players,” commented Laurent Favre, Chief Executive Officer of Plastic Omnium. At this stage, we do not yet know the identity of the customer. However, Plastic Omnium has already worked with Ford on hydrogen.
The plant is expected to represent a total investment of around $170 million and create 175 high-tech industrial jobs. The project will be supported by the Michigan Economic Development Cooperation (MEDC) to the tune of 7.4 million dollars. In addition to the state funding, Genesee County and Grand Blanc Township have committed to investing in infrastructure and job support. The site also aims to be 100% carbon neutral.
Do you want to learn more about Plastic Omnium? Then our latest 2 articles on the company should be of interest to you. You can read them here and there.
Article written by Laurent Meillaud and translated by Logan King
