Air Liquide to build €400+ million, 200 MW PEM electrolyzer plant in Normandy

On the occasion of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to supply the TotalEnergies refinery in Gonfreville, Normandy, France, with renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, Air Liquide announced an investment of more than €400 million for the construction of its Normand’Hy electrolyzer, with a capacity of 200 MW.

The cooperation between Air Liquide and TotalEnergies is part of the development of a renewable and low-carbon hydrogen sector on the Axe Seine, to contribute to decarbonizing industry in the Normandy region.

As part of this agreement, the Air Liquide Normand’Hy electrolyzer will deliver to TotalEnergies’ refinery in Gonfreville, over the long term, from the second half of 2026, renewable and low-carbon hydrogen equivalent to an electrolysis capacity of 100 MW. The remaining 100 MW will be dedicated to customers in the Normandy industrial basin, as well as for the development of low-carbon mobility.

To supply Air Liquide Normand’Hy, TotalEnergies will generate up to 100 MW renewable electricity to power the electrolyzer, volume corresponding to the hydrogen delivered to its refinery. For the remainder of the electrolyzer’s electricity needs, Air Liquide plans to sign long-term renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), completed with low-carbon energy from the French power grid.

Air Liquide Normand’Hy is the largest PEM electrolyzer ever built. Based on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysis technology, it will integrate equipment produced in the framework of the joint venture between Air Liquide and Siemens Energy. Avoiding up to 250,000 tons of CO₂ emissions per year, it will be located in the Port-Jérôme industrial zone in Normandy, France, and will be part of Air Liquide’s local hydrogen network.

The Air Liquide network already includes two production units:the hydrogen unit at the TotalEnergies refinery in Gonfreville and the hydrogen unit at Port-Jérôme, where the Group has installed its CO₂ capture solution Cryocap.

Within the framework of the Important Project of Common European Interest (PIIEC) approved by the European Commission, the project has received the support of the French government for an amount of €190 million.