Lhyfe
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Green hydrogen
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Renewable energies
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Energie transition
- Clean and affordable energy
- Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Action against climate change
Pitch
Presentation
Lhyfe, a French company, is a producer and supplier of green and renewable hydrogen and a major European player in the energy transition. The green hydrogen produced by Lhyfe is set to revolutionize the hydrogen sector, which today relies 95% on fossil fuels. Hydrogen is used in sectors such as chemicals, steel, electronics, and soon in mobility as an alternative to batteries. However, hydrogen as it is currently produced generates a lot of CO₂. The hydrogen produced by Lhyfe generates 10 times less CO₂ (source: ADEME) and helps decarbonize entire sectors of industry and transport. It is produced through the electrolysis of water powered by renewable energies (wind, solar).
For the first time, citizens are invited to finance the construction of four green hydrogen production plants alongside Lhyfe through a crowdfunding campaign in the form of bonds.
The first site, located in France in Morbihan, is already built. It was inaugurated at the end of 2023 and will begin operations in the second half of 2024. With a production capacity of 2 tons of green hydrogen per day, it will serve customers in the region.
A second site, which will be delivered in the coming weeks, is located in Germany, in Baden-Württemberg, and will be able to produce up to 4 tons of green hydrogen per day. It will supply hydrogen stations in the H2 Mobility network. The two other sites, located in Somme and Isère, are under construction and will be able to produce up to 2 tons and 4 tons per day, respectively. The Isère site will supply local hydrogen stations in the HYmpulsion network.
Actively contribute to the fight against climate change by financing the construction of four green hydrogen plants alongside one of the major players in green hydrogen in Europe!
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Team
1 founder, 200 employees
Driven by the desire to have a positive impact on the environment and build a better future for his children and future generations, Matthieu Guesné founded Lhyfe in 2017, with the belief that green hydrogen will accelerate the decarbonization of the most polluting sectors of our economy. Today, Lhyfe has 200 employees across 8 European countries, with the majority based in France, working across development, commercial, technical (engineering, construction, operations), administrative, and financial roles. All are committed to a unique entrepreneurial journey dedicated to the energy transition, guided daily by common values of courage, optimism, and solidarity.
Challenges
Every year, 35 billion tons of CO₂ are emitted worldwide, with a significant portion coming from the mobility and industrial sectors, which are largely powered by fossil fuels. Grey hydrogen, which is used extensively, accounts for 1 billion tons of CO₂ on its own. This hydrogen is essential for industry and daily life because it is used in the production of steel, glass, fabric, glue, electronic systems, and more. Today, it is also used in mobility. However, the way it is currently produced generates far too much CO₂: producing 1 kg of hydrogen generates 10 kg of CO₂. It is now essential to produce it in a clean way.
Solutions
Lhyfe's mission is to deploy green hydrogen production plants with a dual ambition: decarbonize industry and promote green mobility. First, green hydrogen is produced from renewable energies (solar, wind, hydro), emitting much less CO₂ than grey hydrogen during its production process: producing one kilogram of green hydrogen emits about 10 times less CO₂ compared to one kilogram of grey hydrogen. Green hydrogen is produced locally, thus reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports, often from geopolitically unstable regions, and strengthening our energy independence. Furthermore, green hydrogen helps decarbonize certain transport sectors that are less suited to electric solutions, particularly heavy-duty trucks or buses, which require high availability, quick refueling, and long-range capabilities.
Economic model
A pioneer and pure player (single-activity) in the sector, Lhyfe controls the entire value chain of green hydrogen production (development, financing, construction, operation of the plant, and transportation to the customer), ensuring industrial efficiency and economies of scale. All projects developed and operated by Lhyfe produce green hydrogen from renewable electricity using water electrolysis technology. Beyond this constant, the projects mainly vary depending on the intended use of the green hydrogen: either the "bulk" model, with a diversified customer base (industry and mobility) delivered by road via containers, or the "on-site" model, with a primary industrial client typically supplied via a pipeline.
In France, Lhyfe is the leading producer of green hydrogen delivered via containers. The production sites involved in the Lita financing are all of the bulk type. They benefit from an experienced sales team to secure their revenues through direct supply contracts for green hydrogen with customers. Some of these contracts are long-term, ranging from 5 to 10 years, such as the 10-year agreement with HYmpulsion to supply their 7 hydrogen stations in the Alpine region, or the 10-year contract with the Lorient metropolitan area to supply 2 hydrogen stations for the city’s buses and boats. Additionally, shorter-term contracts, such as the 18-month agreement with HysetCo, a pioneer in mobility in the Île-de-France region, complement this strategy. Each production site maintains a portfolio of diverse clients, ensuring visibility on future revenues.
Long term impact
As a major European player in green hydrogen production, the positive impacts of Lhyfe and its production sites are multi-dimensional:
Decarbonization of Industry: With the production of grey hydrogen in France emitting around 9 million tons of CO₂ today (source: ADEME), green hydrogen represents a significant and immediate means of decarbonizing entire sectors of industry that currently consume hydrogen from fossil fuels (ammonia production, iron and steel manufacturing, glass production, chemicals, etc.).
Development of Green Mobility: Green hydrogen is a viable and economical alternative to fossil fuels in the mobility sector, particularly relevant for vehicles where electrification is less suited (heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, coaches, buses, light commercial vehicles).
Local Energy Production: The production sites developed by Lhyfe are located close to end-users, allowing for the local supply of infrastructure, including public transport networks, industrial sites, or logistics companies.