TotalEnergies and Air Liquide have announces the formation of 50:50 joint venture to establish a network of hydrogen stations aimed at heavy duty vehicles along key European highways. The partners hope to install more than 100 hydrogen stations on important European roadways in France, Benelux, and Germany. These TotalEnergies stations will be situated along critical strategic routes.
This joint venture between TotalEnergies and Air Liquide will create a leading player in hydrogen refueling solutions. TotalEnergies will bring its experience in station network operations and energy distribution, while Air Liquide will bring its technology expertise and knowledge of the hydrogen value chain. The joint venture will invest, build, operate the stations, and source and dispense hydrogen to transport customers and be jointly managed by both companies.
“Following the recent signature of a partnership for the production of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen on our Grandpuits Zero Crude Platform, we are pleased to once again join forces with Air Liquide and continue our common efforts to decarbonise mobility. As pioneers in hydrogen mobility, we are convinced of the necessity to start building now a heavy-duty network that will benefit our customers” says Thierry Pflimlin, President Marketing & Services, TotalEnergies. “This new partnership with Air Liquide will enable us to continue our development across the entire hydrogen value chain.”
Matthieu Giard, Vice President and Executive Committee Member of the Air Liquide Group, supervising the Hydrogen activities, underlines: “Hydrogen offers clear benefits for heavy duty mobility. To promote its widespread use, it is imperative to accelerate the development of refueling infrastructures and to offer vehicle manufacturers and transport operators a sufficiently dense network of stations. It is precisely the ambition of this joint venture, which will benefit from the complementary expertise of Air Liquide and TotalEnergies. As a leader for over 60 years and with unique know-how and technologies, Air Liquide is a major player to accelerate and scale up the development of hydrogen, a key element for the emergence of a low-carbon society.”
The two partners plan to establish their joint venture in 2023, subject to the finalisation of the appropriate contractual documentation and granting of the necessary regulatory approvals.
