What if the solution was in a single drop of water?
One of its elements, hydrogen, (the “H” of the H2O molecule) being practically inexhaustible on our planet, it should establish itself as the next technological revolution.
A green revolution since, by decarbonizing our industries, it will be synonymous with reducing pollution.
In any case, this is the strategy of the French government, which has allocated a budget of 2 billion euros for hydrogen over two years, plus 5.2 billion euros by 2030, as part of its Recovery plan.
For their part, 33 French giants (Air Liquide, Engie, Total, Faurecia, Plastic Omnium, etc.) brought together 80 SMEs within 160 projects, with the support of 54 local authorities, for a total amount of 32 billion euros. euros.
Between 50,000 and 150,000 jobs, direct and indirect, could thus be created.
Everywhere, the hydrogen race is on.
Korea, Japan and even China are already well advanced.
On the European continent, Germany, which relies on hydrogen trains, will invest 9 billion euros over ten years, while the Portuguese will release 7 billion euros.
Around 2050, the share of hydrogen in the European energy mix, almost zero today, could reach 12% or 14%.
Manufacturers in the race
In the upcoming competition, "we have no shortage of industrial champions", underlined the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire on September 9 during the presentation of the national hydrogen strategy.
"Hydrogen is a good candidate for heavy goods vehicles, buses, boats, trains or planes", agrees Marc Jedliczka, of the NégaWatt association.
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To do without diesel, very polluting, the boss of the SNCF, Jean-Pierre Farandou, is also betting on hydrogen to run trains on half of the network which is not electrified.
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and the Grand Est have already expressed their interest to the SNCF to equip themselves with ten trains by 2023.
Car manufacturers are not left out.
In 2013, Hyundai marketed an ix35 adapted in “fuel cell” (hydrogen), before designing a special model, the Nexo, in 2018. Toyota is also at the forefront with its Mirai (“future” in Japanese).
Released in 2014, it equips the Ile-de-France fleet with Hype taxis.
More than 20,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles circulate around the world, getting supplies from nearly 400 charging stations.
In France, Renault and PSA are starting timidly by launching utilities, Kangoo and Master ZE for one, Expert, Jumpy and Vivaro for the second.
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One downside, however: 80% of hydrogen today comes from coal, oil or gas, releasing millions of tonnes of CO2 per year into the atmosphere.
To "green" production, the government is banking on electrolysis, which combines water and electricity from renewable sources (photovoltaic, wind power, etc.).
But if the technology is to prevail, "costs will have to be reduced," warns Philippe Boucly, president of the French Association for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (Afhypac), which values 24 billion euros. investments needed in France by 2030.