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, where the questions of mobility for the elderly, access to employment or even the revitalization of town centers arose with the problem of logistics platforms located outside the city.
Based on this observation, we worked on mobility solutions, but also supply chain with a solar and hydrogen hybrid vehicle. Within the vehicle itself, we have developed systems for filling hydrogen, its supply chain and its traceability. We also imagined and created a fuel cell and a connected removable tank. Thus, with a fleet of vehicles, it is possible to respond to the challenges of mobility and last mile deliveries. Hydrogen is produced locally and in large quantities using renewable energies. This is exactly what we did in Redon. The MHOOVE company was also created to manage vehicle fleets and offer different services.
Today, the objective is also to work with stores, artisans and manufacturers. Hydrogen is produced for cars, but also for dumpsters, trucks, buses and industries. This makes it possible to work on shedding in companies (reduction of the physical consumption of a site in the event of an imbalance between electricity supply and demand), but by substituting a hydrogen generator for the diesel generator.
In fact, instead of producing hydrogen on one side and managing mobility on the other, with this project we are doing both at the same time. The regional company produces and distributes hydrogen and takes care of mobility and supply chain. We thus have a greater turnover thanks to mobility, which allows us to reduce the price of hydrogen. In Redon, we are around six euros per kilo without subsidies, while others are at 14 euros per kilo with subsidies.
For industry, it’s exactly the same process. A business is an ecosystem in itself. On its production site, we find the best solution to produce hydrogen. We use hydrogen and the eco-product to make the site energy self-sufficient. The excess hydrogen is injected into other solutions, such as handling equipment or vehicles. For the eco-product, we use oxygen from electrolysis for water treatment or food packaging. There is also steam reforming using bioLNG. This allows CO to be recovered2. Today, with the increase in energy prices, this model is increasingly virtuous.
Can you tell us about your 350 kW generator? Can it be used in different environments (industrial, port, etc.)?
This will be tested by Enedis. The objective is to work directly on electricity networks to replace diesel generators. We will carry out other tests in Saint-Nazaire and Le Havre for powering boats at the dock and other uses. For example, we are developing a service offering for the delivery of energy using this generator. We also guarantee the origin of hydrogen. For ports which must prepare for carbon taxation from 2025, this solution is very relevant. Saint-Nazaire but also Le Havre are interested. We have also received the Smart Ports City label from Le Havre and Monaco. Our generator has a power of 350 kW, but the ports ask us to work on 500 kW and megawatts. Studies for this new, more powerful generator have already been carried out. This generator is also of interest to companies in the port ecosystem. Finally, we are also developing it for powering aircraft.
Let us also note the data centers who constitute our new customers. Just like the generator itself, a data center produces a lot of calories. Our goal is to reuse them for different applications. We carry out implementation studies with several data centers. We validate the location where there are renewable energies, heat needs and eco-products around hydrogen. As a result, we are improving the economic model.
You are totally registered in the territories. How do you work with local authorities, and in particular the Brittany region?
Generally speaking, the French system is very compartmentalized (energy, mobility, etc.). It was very different in Redon, because the general director of services had a transversal vision. When we studied the territory, we spoke with businesses, schools, EPHADs and hospitals, and we worked with local associations. This allowed us to size the entire ecosystem (number and type of vehicles, etc.). We also worked with manufacturers to designate those who would take care of vehicle maintenance.
We also want to involve citizens. This is why we communicated extensively in schools and organized citizen universities and meetings to explain our economic model. We also created the “living lab for territories in transformation” Ar Nevez which brings together the Eco-Origin cluster, the CHEDD (College of Advanced Studies in Sustainable Development) Brittany and UniLaSalle EME (school of environmental professions) for the training. All this work was carried out with the Redon campus and several schools in Rennes, such as Sciences Po.
We are also working on the AILB (Inter-metropolitan Alliance Loire-Bretagne) project which brings together thirteen towns in the Brittany and Pays de la Loire regions. We organize meetings with mayors and city presidents to explain our economic model to them, which allows us to move forward and make the model profitable in a global manner. Industrialists are also interested in both regions. In fact, our generator contributes to improving the financial balance sheet of local businesses, strangled by the price of energy.
