France Doubles Down on Hydrogen: Bourgogne-Franche-Comté to Lead the Charge
France is accelerating its commitment to hydrogen energy, unveiling a revised national strategy with the Bourgogne-Franche-comté region at its core. Industry Minister Marc Ferracci presented the updated roadmap April 17, 2025, at Gen-Hy in Allenjoie, solidifying the region’s pivotal role in the nation’s hydrogen ambitions.
€100 Million Boost for Gen-Hy: A Game Changer
The government is injecting nearly €100 million into Gen-Hy, a gear equipment supplier, to ramp up its production of electrolyzers and membranes for green hydrogen. The new factory, slated to produce its frist electrolyzers in early 2026, boasts a unique advantage: manufacturing hydrogen without relying on scarce materials. The facility aims to produce 350 electrolyzers annually.
This project, a collaboration with Eiffage Energie Systems and Saint-Gobain, positions Gen-Hy as a global leader. According to Sébastien le Pollès, president of Gen-Hy, the project will make Gen-Hy the only society in the world to produce all components under the same roof.
The site is projected to create 150 jobs within four years, eventually reaching 250.
Hydrogen School Project: Training the Next Generation
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté has also been selected to lead the hydrogen school project, backed by nearly €6 million from France 2030.This initiative, managed by the region in partnership with 18 public and private entities, including the regional academic rectorate, France Labor, and the University Marie and Louis Pasteur, will ensure the training of skilled workers essential for the burgeoning hydrogen sector.
Regional Impact and National Strategy
Marie-guite Dufay, president of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, emphasized the significance of these projects:
These two projects are likely to strengthen the national sector and particularly the regional ecosystem, now present throughout the value chain, from the fuel cell to the reservoirs via the electrolyzers.
Marie-Guite Dufay, president of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region
Dufay and regional communities, in collaboration with France Hydrogen, have advocated for continued investment in hydrogen, particularly for heavy mobility, aligning with the national strategy.
National Ambitions Adjusted
The government has recalibrated its hydrogen production targets, aiming for up to 4.5 gigawatts
installed in France by 2030 and 8 GW by 2035.
Minister Ferracci explained the revised goals:
We could see that certain technologies are more mature, certain uses develop faster than others, than alternatives to hydrogen are progressing fairly quickly, especially in the field of electrification.So today, we adjust, with objectives, however very enterprising.
Marc Ferracci, Minister of Industry
