Siemens Energy to deliver 200MW of PEM electrolysers to Air Liquide’s Normand’Hy semi-green hydrogen project

TotalEnergies has reached an agreement to procure renewable and low-carbon hydrogen from a French facility, with intentions to utilize it at their local oil refinery. In a related development, Siemens Energy has disclosed plans to supply 200 megawatts (MW) of its PEM electrolysers to Air Liquide's Normand'Hy project situated in northern France. This facility is set to supply both green and "low-carbon" hydrogen to TotalEnergies' nearby oil refinery.

The Normand'Hy project received a significant boost when the French oil giant announced its commitment to provide 100MW of renewable and "low-carbon" power to support the electrolysers at the facility. Consequently, the project aims to procure 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 5,000 tonnes of "low-carbon" hydrogen annually, commencing in the second half of 2026.

This collaborative initiative will mark one of the pioneering endeavors to benefit from Siemens Energy's novel electrolyser factory based in Berlin. The factory is slated to commence serial production of electrolyser stacks in November, with ambitious plans to expand its annual capacity to a minimum of 3 gigawatts (GW) by 2025. This particular facility is jointly owned, with the French industrial gases company holding a 25.1% stake as part of a joint venture arrangement with the German energy giant, a partnership that was announced in June 2022.

Located in the commune of Port-Jérôme, Normand'Hy is poised to generate an impressive 28,000 tonnes of "sustainable hydrogen" annually, catering to both industrial applications and the mobility sector.

The French government, recognizing the significance of the Normand'Hy project in advancing green hydrogen, allocated €190 million in financial support in March 2022. These funds will be disbursed contingent on the European Commission's determination that the project qualifies as an Important Project of Common Interest, thus rendering it eligible for state aid.

Anne-Laure de Chammard, a member of the management board at Siemens Energy, emphasized the pivotal role of green hydrogen in the sustainable decarbonization of industries. She underscored the importance of projects like Normand'Hy while also highlighting the need for swift progress in similar major initiatives. De Chammard stressed the necessity of robust political support and streamlined procedures to promote and endorse such projects for the successful development of a European hydrogen economy.