Hydrogen+. On what ambition is the operational deployment of the regional policy in terms of new energies and in particular green hydrogen based?
Christelle Morançais. Reducing greenhouse gases involves changes in the energy mix, and hydrogen is at the heart of our strategy to combine ecology and growth. In line with the regional roadmaps for the energy and ecological transition, we wanted to accelerate the development of the hydrogen sector in the Pays de la Loire. The Region voted in July 2020 for a major hydrogen plan, accompanied by a massive investment of 100 million euros. Our objective is to boost the hydrogen ecosystem in the Pays de la Loire, with a view to amplifying its uses and developing employment around the sector, innovation and skills. I have the ambition to make renewable hydrogen a consumer item, like gasoline or diesel today.
How do you explain the success of the hydrogen excellence sector in the Pays de la Loire region?
Hydrogen is a sector of excellence that will contribute to the growth of the local economy. The region has nearly a hundred initiatives, led by pioneering actors, communities and collectives, innovative companies, academic actors experienced in research and innovation. The hydrogen sector in Pays de la Loire is based on a base of expertise in the maritime and port fields, renewable marine energies, maritime, aeronautical and land mobility… The Region has given itself the mission of leading and structuring the sector with competitiveness clusters ensuring the link between academics and businesses. This dynamic is based in particular on the excellence of research in our territory and on the Loire culture of innovation. The birth of Lhyfe is an excellent illustration of this. It would not have been possible without ecosystems fully committed to renewable energies, and in particular green hydrogen.
The renewable hydrogen sector seems to have reached a level of maturity allowing an acceleration of operational development. What are the ambitions of Pays de la Loire in the medium and long term in this sector?
We intend to succeed in the energy and ecological transition in our region with complementary solutions, of which hydrogen is a major solution, made visible by the emergence of a “Hydrogen planet” in the Pays de la Loire by 2030. These solutions will notably serve the mobility of tomorrow, with boats, planes and hydrogen vehicles. The three ecosystems currently being consolidated and the numerous projects already underway contribute to the development of innovative technological and industrial sectors which will offer professions of the future. We fully embrace our ambition to become a reference region for the production of green hydrogen.
