- Lhyfe secured a €149 million grant from the French government to build a green hydrogen plant near Le Havre, France.
- The Green Horizon project supports France’s decarbonisation goals with phased funding and plans to exceed 100 MW in installed electrolysis capacity.
Lhyfe, a major force in the green hydrogen sector, has received a €149 million ($169 million) grant from the French government to develop a large-scale hydrogen production facility near the Grand Canal of Le Havre. The French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, confirmed the funding as part of the nation’s broader effort to accelerate decarbonisation and support renewable energy innovation.
The European Commission selected this project in 2022 under the third wave of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) dedicated to hydrogen. The French government announced the grant in March 2024 through Roland Lescure, then Minister Delegate for Industry and Energy, during his official visit to Le Havre.
The firm signed a phased funding agreement with Bpifrance, which outlines the disbursement of the grant over four years. Bpifrance will issue an initial €18 million advance by June 2025 to cover investments dating back to 2022 and to support the project’s next stages. The government will release subsequent payments based on Lhyfe’s achievement of specific project milestones until the full €149 million has been delivered.
Lhyfe plans to build the Green Horizon project on a 2.8-hectare site in Gonfreville-l’Orcher, near the industrial port of Le Havre in Normandy. Once operational by 2029, the facility will produce up to 34 tonnes of green hydrogen per day using water electrolysis—one of the cleanest production methods available.
The plant will serve the industrial and transport sectors, which face increasing pressure to decarbonise. Lhyfe chose the site for its proximity to existing industrial operations, including the Yara facility, which also intends to incorporate green hydrogen in its processes. Yara has publicly supported Lhyfe’s initiative.
By pushing ahead with the Green Horizon project, the company is helping France and the EU progress toward their hydrogen strategies, including France’s goal of reaching 4.5 GW of installed electrolysis capacity by 2030. The French government included the project in its 2021 hydrogen call, and the European Commission approved it in February 2024.
Lhyfe has already obtained all essential building permits, environmental clearances, and grid connections for the plant, positioning it as one of the first large-scale green hydrogen production sites in France and Europe.
Matthieu Guesné, Founder and CEO of Lhyfe, welcomed the government’s support. “This grant reflects a strong vote of confidence in Lhyfe as an SME capable of innovating and tackling complex technological challenges,” he said.
“It highlights our ability to invest and collaborate with international partners. The Green Horizon project marks a turning point for decarbonising large-scale industrial uses. With this facility, Lhyfe will exceed the 100 MW mark in installed electrolysis capacity and take a major step forward in industrial transformation.”
By completing the Green Horizon project, Lhyfe aims to reduce Europe’s reliance on fossil fuels and help the EU meet its greenhouse gas reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement.