Hydrogène de France (HDF Energy) inaugurated the world’s first high-power fuel cell factory on Thursday in Blanquefort (Gironde). From 2026, the site will produce fuel cells which will be used to produce electricity in order to decarbonize the heavy mobility sector.
The current production capacity is 100 megawatts (MW) of batteries per year and it must reach 1 GW/year from 2030, explains the company founded in 2012 and listed on the stock exchange for three years.
These batteries will be used to produce electricity to decarbonize the heavy mobility sector: hydrogen freight locomotives and ships. Projects have already been initiated by the company with Captrain, a subsidiary of SNCF, and ABB Marine international. Connected to wind or solar electricity sources, they will also power electricity networks to replace old coal or fuel-fired power plants.
Supported by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, HDF Energy was selected by the European Commission as part of a joint financing program dedicated to hydrogen, among other emerging sectors promoting the necessary exit from fossil fuels in order to fight against climate change. This will translate, for the 11 beneficiary companies (including Airbus and BMW), into 1.4 billion euros of public funding provided by seven EU member countries – which should unlock an additional 3.3 billion euros in private investments according to the sector.
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