Lhyfe inaugurates its latest renewable and green hydrogen production site – Lhyfe Bretagne – in Buléon. The new renewable green hydrogen production site is stated to be the first of its kind to be built in Brittany and one of the two largest in France, along with the Lhyfe Occitanie site.
Under this new renewable and green hydrogen production site, Lhyfe Bretagne will mainly supply hydrogen for local transport and the industrial processes of regional companies. Lorient Agglomération will be the first urban community in Brittany to benefit from the hydrogen produced at the site.
Lhyfe Bretagne is part of the VHyGO or Great West Hydrogen Valley project, supported by ADEME.
Two years after the opening of its first site in Pays de la Loire, and a week after the launch of Lhyfe Occitanie, Lhyfe’s latest production unit in Brittany confirms its commitment towards large-scale industrial deployment.
These two new sites in Brittany and Occitanie are reported to have five times the production capacity of the initial site. The new renewable and green hydrogen production site is sought to meet the growing market demand for green and renewable hydrogen. Lhyfe’s aim is to produce up to 80 tonnes a day by 2026.
Lhyfe will produce up to two tonnes of green and renewable hydrogen per day, or up to 575 tonnes per year (installed electrolysis capacity of 5 MW), from the site in Buléon (Morbihan), near the VSB Energies Nouvelles wind farm. Two tonnes of hydrogen would enable a hydrogen truck to travel around 25,000 km, without emitting a single gram of CO2. With the same quantity, a car could travel the equivalent of five times around the earth, or around 200,000 km.
In addition to producing its hydrogen by electrolysis of water, Lhyfe also uses renewable electricity, resulting in hydrogen that is completely carbon-free. Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) signed with renewable electricity producers, including VSB Energies Nouvelles, ensure the supply of power.
Lhyfe is also building five other renewable and green hydrogen production sites across Europe. This site also marks the start of Brittany’s hydrogen fuel chain, with Lorient Agglomération due to launch its first hydrogen-powered services in the first quarter of 2024.
The central location of this site will enable Lhyfe to supply its customers throughout the Brittany region, as part of a short supply chain approach.
Pierre Bouédo, Mayor of Buléon: “The municipality of Buléon is extremely proud to be inaugurating Brittany’s first green and renewable hydrogen production site today. The hydrogen produced here will be delivered throughout the region, decarbonising transport and industry and contributing to Brittany’s energy autonomy.”
Fabrice LOHER, President of Lorient Agglomération and Mayor of Lorient: “Lorient Agglomération’s ambition is to accelerate its ecological, energy and digital transitions, in particular by decarbonising its land and sea transport. This transition is essential to achieve energy sobriety, and even sovereignty, for our area. The inauguration of this hydrogen production unit is part of the deployment of an integrated local renewable hydrogen chain, from production to use, including research and development, innovation and training. The first seven hydrogen buses will soon be on the road and fuelled by the hydrogen production unit in Buléon. In parallel, ENSIBS, the South Brittany University National Engineering School has been offering France’s first apprenticeship engineering degree in “Energy and Hydrogen” since the start of the academic year, to better align the region’s training offer with the future needs of companies in the energy sector. By promoting innovation and building on the structuring of new strategic sectors such as renewable hydrogen, Lorient Agglomération is strengthening its position as a major economic player in Brittany.”
Matthieu Guesné, Founder and CEO of Lhyfe: “Our site in Buléon, the first green and renewable hydrogen production site to see the day in Brittany and one of the largest sites in France, will soon be able to come into service to decarbonise industry and mobility in the region. We are very proud to be working with our public and private partners to help build a new industry for the future in Brittany, and to offer local stakeholders a viable alternative to fossil fuels from 2024.”
