French hydrogen producer Lhyfe has confirmed a €149m subsidy from the French government for its Green Horizon project, one of the country’s largest upcoming green hydrogen production sites.
The support package, signed with public sector investment bank Bpifrance, will be disbursed in phases and includes an initial €18m payment scheduled for June 2025. The full grant will be awarded over a four-year period, tied to project milestones.
Located in Gonfreville-l’Orcher near Le Havre in northern France, the site is expected to produce up to 34 tonnes of green hydrogen per day once completed. It will be Lhyfe’s first facility to pass the 100 MW mark in installed electrolysis capacity and is scheduled for completion by 2029.
Green Horizon has been designated an Important Project of Common European Interest by the European Commission and was one of three projects awarded funding during the recent announcement of France’s updated National Hydrogen Strategy. It received the largest grant among the three.
The project will supply hydrogen to industrial users in the Le Havre port area, including fertiliser manufacturer Yara, which supports Lhyfe’s plan as part of its own decarbonisation roadmap. Hydrogen will be delivered primarily via pipeline, with grid connection and power availability already secured.
Lhyfe has submitted planning and environmental authorisations for the 2.8-hectare site and says the project will help demonstrate the feasibility and scalability of renewable hydrogen production in an industrial setting.
Matthieu Guesné, CEO of Lhyfe, described the funding as “a strong vote of confidence” in the company’s ability to scale hydrogen production. “With this project Lhyfe will surpass the 100 MW milestone in installed electrolysis capacity – a true industrial leap forward,” he said.
The Green Horizon facility will contribute to France’s 2030 hydrogen target of 4.5 GW of installed electrolysis capacity. The updated national strategy includes subsidies and support mechanisms to accelerate the development of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen, with a focus on industrial use cases.
Lhyfe currently operates four hydrogen production sites in France and Germany and has delivered hydrogen to around 50 customers in eight countries.
