The hydrogen sector stands out at the Vendée Globe

The Vendée Globe sailing race provided an opportunity to gather key players in the hydrogen industry. Atlantic France is a leading region in this field and is home to several innovative projects.

Atlantic France’s maritime industry is mobilising to develop decarbonisation projects, as all the necessary skills can be found in this region and progress is already underway. During the Vendée Globe, an event dedicated to hydrogen and wind propulsion was organised by the Atlantic France regional council, Solutions&co, and Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique. 

More than 80 professionals attended, representing the entire sector’s value chain: shipowners, shipyards, design firms, integrators, component manufacturers, maintenance and port logistics companies, local authorities, and financiers.

Innovative projects to decarbonise maritime transport 

A roundtable discussion focusing on hydrogen solutions for the maritime sector examined the achievements, challenges, and strengths of the regional industry. Five stakeholders took part:

• MEET 2050, a collaborative institute working to mobilise stakeholders in the maritime sector to accelerate maritime decarbonisation. They highlighted that maritime transport accounts for 4% of global emissions and is crucial to the global economy, so decarbonisation is essential.
  The institute has identified 92 hydrogen-powered ship development projects underway internationally, including 35 in France, nearly a dozen of which are in Western France (workboats, passenger ships, and barges).
• Green Coast (bringing together the companies Lhyfe and Elyse), a key regional project focused on producing e-methanol for ships. Lhyfe has been chosen by Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port to manage large-scale production of 30,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, with Elyse Energy converting 95% of this into 150,000 tonnes of e-fuel.
  The two partners point out that methanol propulsion is gaining ground, with almost 200 ship orders in hand, and that ports will play a strategic role as energy hubs.
• Europe Technologies, which is leading a number of hydrogen-based projects in the maritime sector under its CIAM brand, has identified four priority areas: decarbonisation of maritime and river transport, energy consumption on board (hotel load), supply of ships at berth (cold ironing) and mobile hydrogen storage and distribution. Finally, Europe Technologies also presented four ongoing projects:
  • ESTEBAM: a retrofit of an amphibious mussel boat;
  • Mhy 500: a mobile hydrogen storage and distribution solution installed on a fishing boat;
  • Automoteur 1 MW: a retrofit of a Grand Rhénan barge with the integration of a hydrogen engine;
  • Gulf Vessel Hylias: a complete ecosystem project combining a fuelling station and a hydrogen fuel cell boat.
• Akajoule is involved in the Loire Estuaire Decarbonisation project, which plans large-scale hydrogen production at Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port. The company carries out studies on H2 projects for ports.
• Sofresid, with 40% of its business focused on decarbonisation, is also developing concrete projects, including:
  • an offshore production facility (FPSO)
  • a solution for combining marine renewables and hydrogen
  • a multi-purpose hydrogen power barge

A promising industry with challenges ahead

Green and renewable hydrogen is an energy source for the future, though it remains more expensive than carbon-based fuels. Examples of projects developed by Atlantic France players show that solutions do exist, but we must create the right conditions to stimulate innovation.

Atlantic France has made hydrogen a priority, recognising its key role in the energy transition and the development of the maritime sector. To accelerate growth in this sector, the Regional Council is supporting innovative projects and strengthening cooperation with neighbouring regions. This includes the Bassin hydrogène Grand Ouest initiative, which unites Atlantic France, Brittany, and Normandy.

Are you active in the hydrogen sector? Take advantage of the free services of our business advisors to set up a company in Atlantic France.