Air Liquide and 12 partners publish prospective study of the role of carbon-free hydrogen in energy transition in France

At a time when France is reviewing its energy policy in the framework of its Multiannual Energy Plan (Programmation Pluriannuelle de l’Énergie), a prospective study conducted by Air Liquide and 12 partners¹—with analysis by McKinsey unveiled today highlights the role of carbon-free hydrogen in meeting France’s targets in light of the Paris Agreement. Hydrogen opens up economic growth prospects for French industry in the interest of the environment.

A key role in energy transition beckons for carbon-free hydrogen

Hydrogen has a positive effect on limiting global warming and reducing carbon emissions:

• by decarbonizing end uses: energy for industry, transportation, building heating and power, and as a carbon-free raw material
• and by supporting the development of renewable energy sources.

According to the prospective study conducted by Air Liquide, Alstom, EDF, Engie, Hyundai, Faurecia, Michelin, Plastic Omnium, SNCF, Total, Toyota, Afhypac and the CEA:

By 2050, hydrogen could account for 20% of France’s energy demand, power 18% of vehicles and cut carbon emissions by 55 million metric tons—almost a third of the reduction required under the reference scenario.

The hydrogen industry is expected to generate 40 billion euro of annual revenue and create more than 150,000 jobs by that point.

To turn the 2050 vision into reality, it is time to scale up and make the necessary investments

An estimated €8bn initial investment in equipment, infrastructure, and R&D, to scale up production resources, is required by 2028² to quickly reduce the costs involved in hydrogen technologies.

This prospective study is presented by Afhypac (the French association for hydrogen and fuel cells) and its members at “HyVolution 2018”, the European Hydrogen Energy Days, held in Paris on April 4-5, 2018. This study is based on the same methodology as the global study “Hydrogen, scaling up” authored by the Hydrogen Council and published in November 2017 to coincide with COP23 in Bonn.

The complete study is available on the Afhypac website only in French

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¹The 13 study partners: Air Liquide, Alstom, EDF, Engie, Hyundai, Faurecia, Michelin, Plastic Omnium, SNCF, Total, Toyota, Afhypac and the CEA

²€800M per year, or 2.5% of France’s overall investment in decarbonization