France presents national hydrogen strategy

The French government presented a national hydrogen strategy. It provides for an investment of 7.2 billion euros by 2030 and a hydrogen production capacity of 6.5 GW by 2030. At the same time, a national H2 committee will be established.

The French Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy have published a joint strategy paper focussing on the decarbonization of hydrogen production and the design of a hydrogen industry.

The development of hydrogen-powered vehicles such as trucks, garbage trucks, trains and – in the long term – aeroplanes is to be promoted. “Hydrogen is a strategic opportunity to intensify and accelerate the decarbonisation of the most difficult to decarbonise sectors […], especially in industry and transport”, said Environment Minister Barbara Pompili when presenting the plans.

As far as the distribution of investments is concerned, for example, 1.5 billion euros will be spent on the construction of electrolysis plants, which will later be powered by renewable energy. Almost one billion euros is blocked until 2023 for the development of hydrogen-powered heavy trucks. Further funds are to flow into the development of the industrial sector and the mobilisation of economic actors.

According to the ministries, the aim is to create 50,000 to 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in France over the next ten years. “The aim of this plan is to emerge from the crisis stronger, with a more competitive and low-carbon economy”, affirms Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire, who will also chair France’s newly formed National Hydrogen Committee. The institution should bring stakeholders from industry and politics together on a permanent basis.

The tenor of the national hydrogen strategy in France sounds similar to that of Germany. In June, Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier presented the German hydrogen strategy. Both nations are striving for technological leadership. The German government has formulated a total of 38 individual measures, including nine measures with a mobility focus. In Germany, too, a new, national hydrogen council is to advise politicians in the future.

With reporting by Cora Werwitzke, France.

pv-magazine.com, avere-france.org (in French)