Brittany wants to become the leading supplier of green hydrogen in Europe

It is widely used by industrialists but unknown to the general public. Hydrogen is however increasingly presented as THE energy carrier of the future. Able to produce clean energy when coupled with a fuel cell, this extremely light gas has the wind in its sails. Three times more powerful than gasoline, it is already
used by the automotive industry but also for space launchers.

Accompanied by two specialized firms, the Brittany region has completed a study of development potential. And obviously, the potential is there. "From production to distribution, we have the entire chain assembled on our territory. We have a map to play to be one of the first European regions on hydrogen, or even the first, "said Jean-Noel Guerre, deputy director of Ademe Bretagne.

#hydrogen #Enr #Energetic transition 👩🎓Restitution auj. of the study of green hydrogen potentials in Brittany🔋Several 2 SMILE projects use green hydrogen: H2x at Redon @RedonAgglo & EffiH2 in Vannes @Michelin @MorbihanEnergie @regionbretagne ▶ ️https: //t.co/t3I1XihE4G pic.twitter.com/ISyZTQOnI3

– SMILE smart grids (@SmileSmartGrids) October 17, 2019

If it is today "gray" because produced with hydrocarbons (methane in particular), hydrogen could be "green" tomorrow and from renewable energies. "The problem is the cost. If you want to have a reasonable cost of production, it takes volume ", summarizes Andre Crocq, vice-president of the region of Brittany responsible for the energy transition.

Hydrogen at the foot of the wind turbines

The region aims to transform the energy of its future offshore wind turbines into hydrogen when electricity production will be surplus. A way to store energy produced more environmentally friendly and more efficient than batteries. "This requires the installation of electrolysers. This is where the cost difference is played out because a small electrolyser costs much more than a very large chef, "says Bertrand Chauvet, from Seiya Consulting.

A first test should be launched in a year and a half at the Michelin plant in Vannes (Morbihan) with the purchase of an electrolyser capable of supplying the industrial site, but also sanitary vehicles and some transport trucks. In Brittany, transport companies but also major sites such as ports and airports represent a strong development potential.

Hydrogen production also has the advantage of being local, unlike hydrocarbons that make us depend on countries that are not always virtuous. Around 900,000 tons of hydrogen are consumed each year in France. By 2023, 10% of this mass will have to be "green" and 30% in less than ten years.