Air Liquide and Siemens Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective to combine their expertise in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysis technology. They intend to focus on these key areas: co-creation of large industrial-scale hydrogen projects in collaboration with customers, laying the ground for mass manufacturing of electrolyzers in Europe, especially in Germany and France, and R&D activities to co-develop next-generation electrolyzer technologies.
According to a joint statement, hydrogen will play an essential role to achieve the European Union’s objectives for CO2 and greenhouse gas emission reduction. In order to meet rapidly growing demand, and to lower costs, it is key to accelerate the production of sustainably generated hydrogen through large-scale PEM electrolyzers.
In the framework of their cooperation, France-headed industrial gas major Air Liquide and Siemens Energy, a company within the Germany-headed global technologies major Siemens AG, will jointly apply for large projects funding under the EU’s Green Deal and Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI)-scheme for hydrogen, funded by the French and German Governments.
The IPCEI-funding is required to fast start those activities and meet the challenging timeline set out by the European Green Deal, the EU Hydrogen Strategy as well as the French and German National Hydrogen Strategies.
Hydrogen is a key element for the success of Germany’s energy transition and crucial for European and global efforts to combat climate change. Germany is strongly committed to supporting the market ramp-up of hydrogen technologies and is working hard towards European Hydrogen IPCEIs. Against this background, I very much welcome that Siemens Energy and Air Liquide join forces in this domain and I am looking forward to seeing strong Franco-German hydrogen projects coming online soon, Peter Altmaier, German Federal Economy Minister, said.
With this cooperation, Air Liquide and Siemens Energy will strengthen their core competencies enabling the emergence of a sustainable hydrogen economy in Europe and initiating a European ecosystem for electrolysis and hydrogen technology together with other partners.
Building up a sustainable Hydrogen economy will still require amending the framework conditions in the energy market. However, it will be through partnerships and collaboration that we can shape this market. We highly appreciate to co-create innovative solutions with Air Liquide. Collectively we will overcome the challenges that lie ahead to industrialize the technology and make sustainably generated hydrogen a success story, said Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy
The partners have already identified cooperation opportunities for large-scale sustainable hydrogen projects both in France, Germany, and other European countries.
Hydrogen is a key enabler of the energy transition. In the context of unprecedented acceleration in Europe of hydrogen technologies and markets, the time to scale up is now, notably in France and Germany. The partnership between Air Liquide and Siemens Energy paves the way for the creation of a leading European ecosystem capable of supplying decarbonized hydrogen at competitive prices and promoting the emergence of a low-carbon society. We look forward to this Franco-German cooperation, said Benoît Potier, Chairman, and CEO of Air Liquide.
One of these opportunities is the Air Liquide-H2V Normandy project in France with a capacity of 200 MW, one of the most ambitious European projects for hydrogen production from renewable energies.
Now, is the time to invest massively in order to develop new value chains and new technologies. Now, is the time to act. With “France Relance”, EUR 7 billion will be invested in hydrogen between now and 2030 to make our economy more competitive and more decarbonized. The ambitious project of Air Liquide and Siemens Energy is only the beginning of industrial cooperation that must develop beyond a Franco-German alliance. The recovery must be above all a European recovery. I also salute Air Liquide’s mobilization in the framework of the French hydrogen plan, notably through its participation and commitment within the National Hydrogen Council, Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of Economy, Finance, and the Recovery.
