Lhyfe inaugurates green hydrogen production site in Brittany, France

Two years after the opening of its first site in Pays de la Loire, and a week after the launch of Lhyfe Occitanie, Lhyfe has inaugurated a production unit in Brittany, thus confirming its promise of large-scale industrial deployment (five other sites are already under construction or expansion across Europe). These two new sites in Brittany and Occitanie – each with five times the production capacity of the initial site – meet the growing market demand for green and renewable hydrogen. Lhyfe’s aim is to produce up to 80 tpd by 2026.

This site also marks the start of Brittany’s hydrogen fuel chain, with Lorient Agglomération due to launch its first hydrogen-powered services in 1Q24.

Lhyfe will produce up to two tpd of green and renewable hydrogen, or up to 575 tpy (installed electrolysis capacity of 5 MW), from the site in Buléon (Morbihan), near the VSB Energies Nouvelles wind farm. Two tonnes of hydrogen would enable a hydrogen truck to travel around 25 000 km, without emitting a single gram of carbon dioxide (CO2). With the same quantity, a car could travel the equivalent of five times around the earth, or around 200 000 km.

In addition to producing its hydrogen by electrolysis of water, Lhyfe also uses renewable electricity, resulting in hydrogen that is completely carbon-free. Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) signed with renewable electricity producers, including VSB Energies Nouvelles, ensure the supply of power.

The central location of this site will enable Lhyfe to supply its customers throughout the Brittany region, as part of a short supply chain approach.

Lhyfe Bretagne is part of the VHyGO or Great West Hydrogen Valley initiative, supported by local public and private stakeholders. VHyGO aims to build the first supraregional infrastructure for the production and distribution of green hydrogen in the west of France, to democratise this new energy carrier and decarbonise industry and transport.

Through this VHyGO initiative, Lhyfe Bretagne will supply two HyGO filling stations in the Lorient urban area – one at Lorient bus depot, which is due to be inaugurated in 1Q24, and the other on the left bank of the river Scorff, which will cater for maritime uses. Eventually, 19 buses – the first of which are also due to be delivered during 1Q24 – and two passenger transport boats (known as Transrades) could be powered by this clean and local energy in the Lorient conurbation. These hydrogen-powered Transrades will be a first in France. Lorient Agglomération is actively participating in ecological transition by renewing its public transport fleet. It aims for its fleet to be made up entirely of clean vehicles in 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 with the migration of buses (80% of the fleet will run on BioNGV and 20% on renewable hydrogen), as well as maritime vessels (with the arrival of hydrogen-powered sea buses).

Lhyfe Bretagne – which occupies a site of around 6800 m3 – comprises a series of containerised buildings devoted to various functions (e.g. driver reception, control room, electrical conversion, water electrolysis, compression, quality control, etc.), a truck circulation area and loading bays for trucks transporting hydrogen to filling stations and various customers.

“Our site in Buléon, the first green and renewable hydrogen production site to see the day in Brittany and one of the largest sites in France, will soon be able to come into service to decarbonise industry and mobility in the region. We are very proud to be working with our public and private partners to help build a new industry for the future in Brittany, and to offer local stakeholders a viable alternative to fossil fuels from 2024,” said Matthieu Guesné, Founder and CEO of Lhyfe.

 

 

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