A State-of-the Art in France on Green and Low Carbon Hydrogen Policies
France has developed a national hydrogen strategy, which focuses on promoting the production and use of hydrogen in key sectors such as transportation, industry, and energy.
The strategy includes measures to support research and development, as well as the deployment of hydrogen infrastructure. The strategy was revised again in a consultation process from December 2023 to January 2024. The new version has yet to be adopted.
France stands as a prominent nation in nuclear energy production, generating over 70% of its electricity from nuclear power plants. The country set a target to derive 10% of its hydrogen from renewable sources by 2023 and explore the potential use of nuclear energy for hydrogen production. The target is to develop 6.5 GW electrolyser capacity by 2030.
Furthermore, the French strategy focuses on deploying a sufficient number of electrolysers to significantly contribute to the economy’s decarbonization.
The hydrogen strategy places a priority on heavy-duty mobility for specific fleets covering extensive distances in time-sensitive operations, such as commercial vehicles, buses, and trains in areas lacking electrification. The strategy aims to bolster the production of dependable vehicles, advanced equipment, and skill development for vehicle fleet manufacturing and maintenance.
Regarding industry, the strategy aims to substitute fossil fuel-based hydrogen production processes in sectors like refining, chemicals, electronics, and food processing. Proposed measures include backing hydrogen greening initiatives in the refining sector, implementing a guarantee of origin mechanism, and establishing support schemes for investment and operational costs. The strategy advocates for consolidating demand in the industry and mobility sectors through territorial hydrogen hubs.
Additionally, the government plans to support educational initiatives, including engineering training and the development of new curricula for schools, higher education institutions, and businesses to maintain leadership in the field.
Timeline
Local specifics
Regional Hydrogen Roadmap: The BFC (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté) region has decided to make a commitment by funding projects that meet these priorities. Its financial commitment is 90 m EUR for the next 10 years.
ZEV – Zero Emission Valley Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
This project aims to deploy 14 hydrogen stations and 423 vehicles in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region before the end of 2024.
Public subsidies
France is making significant strides with its National Hydrogen Strategy, aiming to position the country as a leader in hydrogen technology by 2030. The country has set ambitious targets for installing electrolyser capacity to contribute to the decarbonization of the economy. Specifically, in 2023 the Minister of Energy Transition announced the establishment of a support mechanism for renewable or low-carbon hydrogen production, aiming to deploy one gigawatt of electrolysis through calls for tenders of 150, 250, and 600 megawatts from 2024 to 2026. An amount of 4 billion euros has been allocated to this support within the overall 9.2 billion euros promised to the hydrogen sector by 2030.
The Hydrogen Deployment Plan prioritizes heavy-duty mobility and industrial applications, providing support for hydrogen production, refuelling infrastructure, and the transition of industrial processes away from fossil fuels. Additionally, the French Recovery Plan includes significant investments in green hydrogen, further underlining the country’s commitment.
