the hydrogen market | France

1.1 Definition and scope of the study

While hydrogen is often derived from natural gas, a fossil fuel, the production and consumption of hydrogen represents a real challenge for the development of a greener economy and sustainable. A renewable gas that emits only water when consumed, hydrogen is today used mainly for chemical and petrochemical applications .

The world market is growing strongly and is expected to grow with a CAGR of 6.09% between 2020 and 2024. It is made up of major players such as the Air Liquide Group, world leader, Mc Phy and Hélion In France this market is a market with a future even if the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier is currently limited Its production cost still makes it uncompetitive compared to other types of energy.

The majority of French hydrogen is still produced from fossil fuels (94%) and serves polluting industries such as oil refining or fertilizer production. However, private investment and increasing government support, could give hydrogen an important place in the renewable energy sector for various uses such as

• For store solar or wind energy via a fuel cell, and return it
• For power zero-emission vehicles The advantage of this is that it gives them a high degree of autonomy.
• For industrial uses: it allows to decarbonize certain industrial processes such as fertilizer manufacturing, refining, steel, cement.

A deployment plan hydrogen for energy transition 100 million had already been put in place in 2018 In 2020, a new recovery plan, developed in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, provides for investments of 7.2 billion euros in the sector, both to decarbonize hydrogen and to democratize its use in green mobility for example

However, research and development is dynamic The project is supported by the National Research Agency and the Atomic Energy Council.