Key insights from the AMETHyST expert roundtable

Key issues of concern:

• Potential of use of hydrogen to store surplus renewable energy (hydroelectric dams, solar photovoltaic, etc).
• Need to explore uses complementary to winter tourism activities .
• Waste collection vehicles and buses are slow to reach the market, and supply remains very limited.
• Vehicle storage difficulties arise as facilities must be adapted to accommodate hydrogen vehicles, with no technical or financial support available.
• Limited land availability and strict hydrogen safety regulations add to the difficulty.
• Local stakeholders are concerned as water resources are already strained by winter tourism.
• To produce hydrogen at an acceptable price, large-scale production and high demand are necessary, which requires combining public and private use across mobility and industry.
• Using hydrogen buses and coaches requires having replacement vehicles to manage maintenance and charging times, posing an investment burden that discourages operators.
• Difficulty in identifying and collaborating with private sector actors to align the potential and needs of hydrogen. For local stakeholders, an ecosystem project in the Tarentaise-Vanoise region is viable only if an industrial player invests, as local authorities alone cannot support vehicle production and components.
• The main obstacle for groomers is the additional €90,000 cost to operate a groomer (if the cost of hydrogen is €9/kg). Currently, this extra cost is too high for most ski area operators.