There was the scandal of photovoltaic solar panels, the production of which left France for China. However, France has a card to play in renewable energies. A hydrogen sector by electrolysis is emerging and strengthening. But be careful: to become sustainable, it will absolutely have to lower its costs and remain very competitive. France has a great card to play in the renewable energy sector. The government has in fact launched a very ambitious green hydrogen plan. This is an energy of the future with multiple advantages. France is therefore anticipating, but it is also being very careful not to…
Author: KAOUTARI
Elogen, which was acquired by GTT from Areva in 2020, will produce high-capacity electrolyzers in its gigafactory from Vendôme, in Loir-et-Cher. Activities are expected to begin in 2025. The Territoires Vendômois community sold nine hectares of land to the French start-up Elogen, formerly Areva H2Gen. This is where Elogen will build his gigafactory of 20,000 m² for the production of high capacity electrolysers. Jean-Baptiste Choimet, general manager of Elogen, indicated that he wanted to quickly target 1 GW per year. Elogen is a subsidiary of the gas engineer Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT). The investment would amount to more than 50…
Hydrogen+. Can you tell us about your reversible high-temperature electrolyzer technology for the production of carbon-free hydrogen? Florence Lambert. The technology is based on the mastery of thermodynamic physics: rather than electrolyzing liquid water, we electrolyze vaporized water, which is much more efficient. The high temperature (700 to 800 degrees) is of real interest, because it allows less energy to be used to produce hydrogen. We have superheaters to cause the reaction and airtight boxes; then the exothermic reaction works on its own. This stage of thermodynamic control allows us to position ourselves in favorable conditions with 15% more yield…
Hydrogen energy offers a carbon-free alternative for the most polluting sectors such as road transport, heating and industry (cement works, steelworks, etc.). Several methods of producing hydrogen exist, but some still emit CO2. Biomass gasification captures and stores carbon and produces hydrogen without emissions. Achieving the famous “zero emissions” represents much more than the transition to renewable or low-carbon electricity production. The entire economy must be transformed. This of course includes heavy industries, such as cement and steel works, and heavy goods vehicles which transport goods, but also heating in private homes. While hydrogen is a carbon-free fuel, its production…
Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energies, only accounts for 0.1% of global hydrogen production. However, this energy represents an ambitious and achievable challenge to resolve the problems of intermittent energy production and to decarbonize heavy industry. Mastering green hydrogen brings many challenges, but modern digital technologies would make it possible to meet them. The business world, politicians and investors clearly see the potential of green hydrogen to compensate for the intermittency of certain energies. Produced by electrolysis of water (separation of hydrogen and oxygen) from renewable electricity, green hydrogen only accounts for 0.1% of global production. But the falling costs…
Bio360 Expo, an exhibition entirely dedicated to bioenergy, took place in Nantes at the end of March 2022. In particular, green hydrogen resulting from the thermochemical treatment of dry biomass was discussed. Several companies have also presented their technologies for producing hydrogen from biomass. How can we diversify the methods of producing hydrogen, and in particular green hydrogen? Because between gray hydrogen and green hydrogen, there is a significant difference in terms of ecological cost. This essential question was of course highlighted during the Bio360 Expo exhibition, which took place in Nantes on March 30 and 31. The production of…
Energy of the future, green hydrogen is produced from renewable energies. But its use for fuel cells requires a very high level of purity. Several research institutes have developed revolutionary new membranes. Membrane separation makes it possible to achieve a degree of purity greater than 99.9%, essential for operating fuel cells. Simple in theory, this solution offers the advantage of being energy efficient. But this process faces two significant problems: low permeability to hydrogen, swelling due to water. The membrane, made of polymer, ceramic, metal or liquid, serves as a separator. The hydrogen diffuses there. Japanese researchers at the Nagoya…
Hydrogen offers the possibility of breaking our dependence on fossil fuels, highlighted by the war in Ukraine, and of achieving climate objectives. Hydrogen can reduce CO emissions2 industry and transport. Thus, this energy with multiple virtues seems to be the solution for the decarbonization of our societies. Can the climate crisis we are going through be mitigated by the use of green hydrogen, that is to say produced by renewable energies such as wind turbines and solar panels? In this case, the only emission would be drinking water! Supporters of green hydrogen are convinced that this energy will put an…
Last February, Airbus announced that it had reached a new milestone in the development of a green aircraft. Indeed, the manufacturer wants to fly an A380 equipped with hydrogen tanks from 2026. To carry out this ambitious project, Airbus has signed a partnership with the American companies General Electric and French Safran. The A380 will therefore still fly, despite the end of its production. Airbus announced that the MSN01, the first A380 test aircraft, would indeed be modified to play the role of a hydrogen demonstrator. To develop and modify this device, Airbus signed a partnership with CFM International, a…
Hydrogen+. H2X Ecosystems develops two types of ecosystems: one for the public and one for businesses. Can you tell us more about these two sectors of development and the solutions you offer? Stéphane Paul. H2X Ecosystems was born around an economic model. The initial idea was to create value in the territories and ensure that this value remains there. It was no longer a question of talking about “ecological transition”, but rather “ecological transformation”. This meant working on new economic models and reviewing the way to respond to the problems of each territory. Hydrogen was the answer, as in Redon,…