France: Inauguration of the First Renewable Hydrogen Station in Chambéry

A “renewable” hydrogen station

Laurent WAUQUIEZ, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, wanted to make Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes the first hydrogen territory in Europe. In 2017, the Region launched the Zero Emission Valley project to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen and develop the zero-emission mobility of tomorrow. It has thus brought together all the regional players involved in the sector (communities, businesses, competitiveness clusters, clusters, research centers, etc.). 80% of hydrogen players in France are in fact in Auvergne and Rhône-Alpes regions.

The “Zero Emission Valley” project aims to create 20 hydrogen refueling stations (14 of which will also produce hydrogen) and finance a fleet of 1,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles. The project’s first hydrogen refueling station is inaugurated today in Chambéry . This station is set up by the company Hympulsion, created specifically by the Region, Engie, Michelin, the Banque des Territoires, and Crédit Agricole to deploy this regional network of 20 stations.

Obtained by the electrolysis of water, the 40 kg of hydrogen produced per day by the station will allow the refueling of a fleet of more than 50 vehicles. A renewable generation since the station will be supplied with electricity through original warranty certificates of energy (solar, wind, hydro).

A project which benefits from strong support from ADEME

As part of the National Hydrogen plan, launched on 1 ^st June 2018 by the Minister of ecology and solidarity Transition, the Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) has approved assistance on behalf from the State, of € 14.4 million for the Zero Emission Valley project. ADEME’s assistance is massive support for the “Zero Emission Valley” project, unparalleled in France to deploy an ecosystem and hydrogen mobility services.

The aid will help finance 2/3 of the production facilities (electrolyzers) and distribution (stations) of decarbonated hydrogen and 1/3 to the acquisition of 200 additional H2 vehicles to the 1000 vehicles of the ZEV project:

• 2 buses will be in experimentation for Grand Chambéry
• 50 light vehicles for taxi use for example
• and 148 vans> to 2.5t will also be helped.

Around Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains, thanks to the ZEV system, 19 companies and structures have volunteered to engage in hydrogen mobility by purchasing a total of nearly 40 vehicles: AJC, ATMO, SDIS 73, Vicat-SATM , ENGIE, SCDC, EDF CIH, Technopolys, Jean Lain Automobiles, City of La Motte-Servolex, City of Chambéry, City of Aix-les-Bains, Department of Savoie, Grand Lac, Grand Chambéry.

Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region said, “I am very proud to participate today in the inauguration of the first hydrogen refueling station for our major Zero Emission Valley project. This positions us as the Region of Excellence in Europe in the development of hydrogen, a green, sustainable and job-creating energy. It is an illustration of the best we can do in terms of preserving the environment and improving air quality. It is precisely in this spirit that we are signing an agreement today with Grand Chambéry in order to finance concrete actions that will bring a real breath of fresh air to this whole area of ​​life.”

Xavier Dullin, President of Grand Chambéry said, “We are particularly proud to have been designated Zero Emission Valley experimental territory and to host the first hydrogen station. It is the result of close collaboration between public and private players on our territory, where many energy companies and more particularly hydrogen are present. But it is also the result of a strong desire for several years to make our living area an example in terms of environmental policy. With the Climate Air Energy Territorial Plan, the TEPOS approach, the Local Air Quality Plan and the deployment of hydrogen mobility through Zero Emission Valley, we have deployed sustainable and quantifiable actions for the energy transition in our territory.”