Global renewable green hydrogen pioneer Lhyfe is setting up offices in the North East to scout out a new production base.
The France-based multinational is building a UK team to identify opportunities to deploy production facilities to support the country’s net zero ambitions.
In 2021 Lhyfe inaugurated the world’s first plant supplying a renewable green hydrogen produced using wind power to customers in western France.
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The company is developing more than 90 innovative projects across Europe, including a hydrogen rail demonstrator in Germany and a partnership with supermarket giant Lidl for a fleet of more than 100 hydrogen-powered forklift trucks.
The UK entry is its latest step in its drive toward carbon reduction.
Lhyfe is a pioneering producer of renewable green hydrogen which emits no carbon dioxide, developing green solutions for regions, industry, transport and fuel distribution. It has ambitions for more than 3GW of electrolytic hydrogen in operation by 2030.
Lhyfe produces its renewable green hydrogen by using water and wind or sun to power its electrolysers. Water is fed into the electrolyser, which is split into hydrogen and oxygen meaning the only by-product is oxygen.
The hydrogen is then compressed and transported locally from the production unit to various consumers across the region, providing an alternative to fossil fuels and building a local eco-system.
Lhyfe’s pioneering unit in Bouin, France, produces up to 300kg per day, ramping up to 1,000kg per day in 2023 – enough to run a fleet of around 25 buses.
Production units are currently being deployed onshore, but Lhyfe has an aim to take electrolysis offshore – making use of the huge offshore wind potential the UK has on offer, particularly in the North Sea.
Colin Brown, UK country manager of Lhyfe, said: “We are exploring exciting opportunities across the UK to enable local decarbonisation.
“Lhyfe has a strong ethos of working with partners to deliver projects that create real local value, and this is a key focus for the newly formed UK business.
“The UK can become a global leader in the production of green hydrogen, moving away from our reliance on fossil fuels, improving energy security, contributing to net zero and helping drive the economy.
“Our mission is to deploy green hydrogen production at scale and grow our operations in line with demand.
“We encourage any UK industry or organisation seeking to decarbonise to get in touch with us.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Lhyfe opening a North-East base once again shows that international eyes are on our region as we drive forward the UK’s net zero agenda.
“The major hydrogen and offshore wind schemes already taking place at Teesworks and beyond, the Teesside Freeport, and our experienced supply chains make it a no-brainer that Teesside would be the perfect place for any green production facility.
"We’re wasting no time in working with Lhyfe to show them the huge scale of opportunities on offer here to bring even more good-quality, well-paid jobs in the cleaner, healthier and safer industries of the future.”
Matthieu Guesné, CEO and founder of Lhyfe, said: “The opening of our UK subsidiary is in line with our international deployment plans.
“The speed with which this deployment is taking place - this is our sixth European subsidiary in two years - confirms the growing enthusiasm of European countries for renewable hydrogen.
“Through this subsidiary, we will be able to offer decarbonisation solutions that meet the specific uses and constraints of the British market.”
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