Emmanuel Macron announces an additional credit of 1.9 billion euros for the hydrogen sector

“With France 2030, we will add 1.9 billion euros” of additional credit to promote the development of a hydrogen production sector in France, announced Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday November 16 during a visit to the site. from Genevia, to Béziers, in the Hérault.

This company, created by the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the Schlumberger group, the world's leading supplier of technology for the energy industry, will manufacture carbon-neutral hydrogen from a model of electrolyser developed by the CEA. Ultimately, this activity will create 500 jobs on an industrial site hitherto dedicated to the processing of petroleum products.

The additional 1.9 billion euros announced by the Head of State will be more specifically devoted to the development of technologies for manufacturing carbon-free hydrogen. They come on top of the seven billion euro plan put in place to help the industry develop through project financing. According to the Elysée, 77 files have already been submitted to access this funding.

Avoid the emission of 6 megatons of CO2

The executive aims to make France one of the European leaders in hydrogen production with a dual objective by 2030: to avoid the emission of 6 megatons of CO2, i.e. the equivalent of the emissions of the city of Paris and to achieve a hydrogen production capacity corresponding to 6.5 megawatts, or the power of 5 to 6 nuclear reactors. The Elysée hopes to create 50,000 to 100,000 jobs provided that the activity is sustainable. 5 production factories, called "gigafactories", must emerge from the ground in France.

The hydrogen produced will be used to decarbonize heavy industry, in particular steel and cement works, where it will replace the use of fossil fuels. It can also be used as fuel for public transport, trucks, air and maritime transport as well as certain trains. By 2050, hydrogen is seen as the second non-carbon-emitting energy source after electricity.