French company McPhy has inaugurated the largest electrolyser factory in France, located in Belfort.
These machines, which produce hydrogen from water and electricity, are crucial for decarbonizing heavy industry and transportation.
With €114 million in public funding from the European Union, this factory aims to help France achieve its goal of hydrogen sovereignty by establishing a significant installed electrolysis capacity of 6.5 GW by 2030 and 10 GW by 2035.
Belfort: A Hub for Hydrogen Innovation
McPhy’s CEO, Jean-Baptiste Lucas, explains that they chose Belfort for its rich industrial history and its development of a leading hydrogen ecosystem in France.
Initially, the factory will produce Electrolyser Process Units (EPUs), which collect hydrogen and oxygen at the end of the process. In 2025, the factory will begin manufacturing 4 MW “stacks,” the core of the electrolysers where water molecules are split.
McPhy: A Pioneer in Hydrogen Technology
McPhy, with 260 employees in France, Italy, and Germany, emerged from research at the CNRS and the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). EDF holds a 14% stake in the company.
Despite facing technical and financial challenges since its inception over 15 years ago, McPhy now boasts over 55 MW of signed projects worldwide.
Their launch customer is the German energy distribution group HMS Oil and Gas, with a 64 MW project slated for commissioning in late 2025, pending final investment decision.
The Global Hydrogen Landscape
The world consumes approximately 100 million tons of hydrogen annually, primarily produced through polluting methods that release significant amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Electrolysers, like those produced by McPhy, offer a cleaner alternative by producing hydrogen from renewable or nuclear electricity without CO2 emissions.
McPhy’s new factory in Belfort represents a significant step towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future for France and the world. By producing electrolysers at scale, McPhy is contributing to the decarbonization of key industries and paving the way for a hydrogen-powered economy.