Green hydrogen

Renewable energies such as solar or wind power make it possible to produce cleaner energy, but often in larger quantities than the grid can integrate. Hydrogen is considered as a storage solution, allowing to “delay” this energy produced and return it to the network when necessary: the excess electricity is used to produce green hydrogen, which can then be converted back to power via a fuel cell.

How do we develop the green hydrogen sector and integrate its use into the renewable energy production sector? How do we set up a system to optimize the storage and, subsequently, the transformation of hydrogen according to supply and demand?

Valorization of hydrogen in the form of a fuel cell makes it possible to produce electricity that can be used in many sectors, whether in the field of transport (cars, bicycles, trains, or hydrogen aircraft) or in industry in the case of stationary installations. In the latter case, hydrogen can be produced locally to supply buildings with electricity, but also to produce heat that can be recovered for local heating. This method makes it possible to take over in the event of an electrical network failure, but also to work towards massive industrialization of fuel cells, which could benefit other sectors such as the automotive sector.

How do we develop the hydrogen electricity production sector? How do we ensure the development of fuel cell production for democratized use at lower costs?

The use of hydrogen as an energy source in automobiles makes it possible to limit the use of fossil fuels. The development of this sector is taking place in parallel with the development of electric vehicles, offering a greater autonomy than the latter and a much shorter charging time.

How do we set up a charging infrastructure network in the territories where this sector is being developed? How do we reduce the size and cost of charging stations to allow their deployment on a large scale?

The combination of hydrogen with CO2 makes it possible to recreate methane, also called natural gas. By using carbon-free hydrogen, i.e., green hydrogen, produced from renewable energies, these methanization processes could make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions in industry while producing methane that can be reinjected into the gas networks of factories, thereby reducing their consumption of fossil fuels.

How do we develop the methane production sector via carbon-free hydrogen and the infrastructures linked to this sector?

Currently, 95% of the hydrogen produced comes from fossil fuels. An important issue for hydrogen remains the development of a hydrogen production chain without CO2 emissions, whether by water electrolysis or by biomass gasification. To be successful, this carbon-free hydrogen must be competitive compared with carbonated hydrogen, which will require a reduction in installations costs, particularly for electrolysers. In addition, the green energy sector would also need to see an evolution of the energy mix, making it possible to achieve a competitive cost of electricity from renewable sources compared with the price of reformatting gas.

How do we reduce the costs of producing hydrogen by electrolysis to make the sector competitive with the hydrogen obtained by reforming natural gas?

The development of the hydrogen sector raises some questions, particularly about hydrogen storage and the implementation of a distribution network, which has a very high deployment cost. The implementation of a reliable and secure distribution network is therefore an essential concern.

How do we support the growth of hydrogen and its various applications by installing a sufficiently developed and versatile distribution network? How do we take into account the local political and regulatory constraints so that they do not hinder industrial development and instead enable synergy between the players?