France Hydrogène, the federation of 460 companies operating in the hydrogen sector, has responded to the consultation on the new French strategy for the deployment of low-carbon hydrogen.
While the Strategy launched in 2020 did a great deal to develop the supply side, with support for the production of carbon-free hydrogen and for our industrial champions to set up their key equipment plants in the regions, the revised Strategy must now support demand via a dedicated envelope to help customers purchase this equipment," emphasizes Valérie Bouillon-Delporte, co-President. This need is all the more pressing in the road mobility segment, which requires a plan to support the deployment of the first few thousand vehicles, as well as to ensure a coherent network of charging infrastructure across the country. For example, the targets set by the European AFIR regulation for the deployment of charging stations are insufficient and need to be raised." The industry also notes the absence of a plan for the decarbonization of isolated or island sites (the ZNI) and stationary applications, a segment in which solutions already exist.
Adopted in 2020, the national strategy needed to be revised to take account of the challenges facing the industry. "The government's update confirms the industry's objectives for hydrogen production by electrolysis, with a consolidated target of 6.5 GW by 2030 and a milestone of 10 GW by 2035," says Philippe Boucly, President of France Hydrogène. One of the fundamental needs is to ensure good visibility on the conditions for developing production projects, in particular access to electricity available in large quantities and at a competitive cost.
photo archives ©hyvia
