Lhyfe has announced its involvement in the Hy’Touraine project, which is to be the first complete, local public-private ecosystem for renewable hydrogen.
Under this project, founded by four local public authorities from the Tours area and STMicroelectronics Tours – to decarbonise heavy transport and industry – Lhyfe will build a green and renewable hydrogen production site, while Teréga Solutions will operate the distribution infrastructure.
The Hy’Touraine project is supported by a €3.4 million ADEME grant for the gradual deployment of the infrastructure.
The strategically located Isoparc industrial estate in Sorigny was selected as the location for the future renewable hydrogen production plant. The site, which has already been home to the centre region’s first hydrogen fuel station since 2019, will welcome the first hydrogen production unit powered by renewable energy that will be supplied by the local power operator, the SIEL (Syndicat Intercommunal d’Energie d’Indre et Loire), and its renewable energy company EnER Centre Val de Loire.
The unit will be flexible and modular to allow for development and the integration of the ecosystem’s future needs and demands. With an installed capacity of 5 MW, it will be able to produce up to 2 tpd of renewable hydrogen, depending on needs.
It will be used to meet both industrial needs and mobility requirements via two refuelling stations. Hydrogen needs have been identified among numerous local authorities as well as public and private companies.
The involvement of STMicroelectronics Tours will promote local economic development by providing the Hy’Touraine project with an immediate commercial outlet.