The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region has been awarded the Innovation Trophy for its hydrogen development program. Trophy awarded on 30 September at the Congress of Regions of France to Martine Guibert, Vice-President Delegate for Transport of the Region.
The Trophy was awarded at the Congress of the Regions of France, to Martine GUIBERT, Vice-President of the Delegate Region for transport, by Thierry Mallet, CEO of Transdev.
In 2017, the community launched the “Zero Emission Valley” project (€ 70m program), supported by the European Commission and in which the Region invested € 15m: € 8m for the aid. to vehicles and € 7 million in the company Hympulsion, in charge of deploying hydrogen stations) to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen and develop the zero-emission mobility of tomorrow. Making Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes the first hydrogen territory in France and Europe “, is the ambition of Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Aura Region.
Hydrogen, a sector of excellence based in Auvergne-Rhône-Alps
The actors are today concentrated in Auvergne-Rhône-Rhône and the sector has a potential for growth and a significant source of jobs. Afhypac, a national association bringing together players in the hydrogen sector is planning to develop 100 stations and 5,000 vehicles for 2023, and by 2050 the sector could represent:
- 20% of the final energy demand
- annual CO2 emission reduction of 55 million tonnes
- 40 billion in turnover and 150,000 jobs
The Zero Emission Valley program uniquely combines public and private partners. To implement this € 70m program, supported by the European Commission, the Region has invested € 15m: € 8m for vehicle assistance and € 7m for Hympulsion, which is in charge of deploying hydrogen stations. The first station, based in Clermont, was inaugurated in August 2019 and the next, based in Chambéry, will be operational at the end of 2019.
The next deployments will be made in Lyon, Grenoble, Saint-Etienne, Moûtiers. In parallel, the Region has launched a call for projects for light hydrogen vehicles. Regional and European aid aims to reduce the additional cost of hydrogen vehicles compared to diesel vehicles.
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