As a leading industrial region, Normandy is a pioneer in the development of the hydrogen industry in France.

In addition to the traditional uses of hydrogen in the petrochemical and space sectors with the Ariane Group test site, the region is developing new uses such as hydrogen mobility.

Normandy was the first French region in 2018 to adopt a plan to support the hydrogen industry with a budget of 15 million euros over three years. Since then, some twenty actions have already been launched, including numerous hydrogen mobility projects, making the region a real technological incubator in this field.

The main challenge for the development of hydrogen mobility lies in the creation of a distribution infrastructure. This is why since 2016 the region has been co-piloting the European hydrogen mobility program for Normandy with the companies SymbioFCell and Serfim: EAS-HyMob.

The EAS-HyMob program (Easy Access to Hydrogen Mobility)

This project, supported by European Union funding, has made it possible to set up the first hydrogen recharging network on the main roads in Normandy linking the major cities.

With the EAS-HyMob network, the Normandy region now offers a network of 10 operational charging stations, the densest network in France.

The installation of each refueling station was synchronized with the deployment of a fleet of captive hydrogen vehicles. Today, about 40 light hydrogen vehicles are already on the road in Normandy. A regional fleet that should expand to nearly 90 vehicles within a few months.

A territory with assets and skills

The region’s ambition is to develop a real industrial and economic hydrogen industry. Indeed, it has many historical and structural assets that favor this dynamic. Among these assets :

• Historical skills related to the production and handling of hydrogen for the petrochemical and aerospace sectors.
• 2 major seaports: Le Havre (GPMH) and Rouen (GPMR)
• 3 regional ports: Dieppe, Caen Ouistreham and Cherbourg.
• Region with a strong potential for marine renewable energy

Capitalizing on this potential, the Normandy region has positioned itself as a leading region in the hydrogen sector on a European scale.

Normandy, European leader

Since May 2019, the Normandy Region has positioned itself – alongside regions (Aragon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the Northern Netherlands) – as the leader of the European interregional partnership “Hydrogen Valleys” dedicated to hydrogen, which brings together some 40 European regions.

Since July 8, 2020, this partnership is an integral part of the European Alliance for Clean Hydrogen adopted by the European Commission. Thus, the Normandy Region, as co-pilot of the European “Hydrogen Valleys” partnership, will play an active role in the work of this Alliance in order to contribute to the development of the hydrogen sector in its territory as well as in Europe.

In this way, Normandy is consolidating the place of hydrogen in its energy transition while structuring a real industrial and economic sector around hydrogen, an environment favorable to innovations in the hydrogen mobility sector.

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