Two major players in the hydrogen industry have just announced a partnership that could reshape France’s renewable energy landscape. Plug Power and Hy2gen signed a letter of intent that represents more than just another business deal—it’s a strategic move toward energy independence. The collaboration focuses on advancing RFNBO-certified hydrogen production in southern France, targeting logistics and mobility decarbonization across the region. This partnership signals growing momentum in Europe’s push toward sustainable energy solutions.
Strategic partnership to advance the hydrogen roadmap of France
Plug Power has established itself as a world leader in integrated hydrogen solutions, which makes this collaboration especially important for the European markets. The company has a wealth of experience and has more than 72,000 deployed fuel cell systems and 285 fueling stations worldwide.
Jose Luis Crespo, Plug’s President and Chief Revenue Officer noted that “the extension of RFNBO-certified hydrogen production to France is another significant step in Plug’s operative growth in Europe.”
Hy2gen specialises in the development, financing, construction, and operation of plants for the production of RFNBO-certified hydrogen and is therefore the ideal partner for this venture. The company has made itself a world leader in renewable hydrogen solutions, focusing on making projects that comply with rigid certification standards. The expertise of this team in project development and financing complements the technological capabilities and manufacturing experience of Plug Power perfectly.
RFNBO certification guarantees the best environmental standards
The partnership is specifically aimed at RFNBO certified hydrogen production, i.e., Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin. This certification guarantees that the hydrogen produced complies with the highest environmental requirements for renewable sources of energy defined by the European Union and can therefore benefit from various incentives and regulations.
The Sunrhyse project is a flagship hydrogen production plant
The 5MW PEM electrolyzer will be deployed at Sunrhyse, Hy2gen’s showcase hydrogen production project in Signes, France. This facility is a major milestone in France’s hydrogen shift, a demonstration of how LMP renewables may scale renewable hydrogen in a very short amount of time. Cyril Dufau-Sansot is the CEO of Hy2gen, said that “Sunrhyse is a significant step in France’s hydrogen transition” and demonstrates “how renewable hydrogen can scale rapidly, while also serving as the basis for sustained growth over the medium and long-term.”
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region was chosen as having great strategic potential for this project because of its very significant potential energy resources and positioning in relation to major logistical hubs. Plug Power will be in support of the transport and distribution of the hydrogen generated at Sunrhyse, as well as expanding Plug Power’s turnkey hydrogen forklift solutions for logistics bases throughout the region.
Global framework development takes over from the French borders
This cooperation extends beyond the scope of this project, Sunrhyse, since these two firms are developing a framework for the production and distribution of renewable hydrogen on a global scale. The two firms share a common goal to spark a transition in energy in major international markets, in addition to benefiting from their strengths in various regions of the world. The deal will form a basis for future collaborations, which have the potential to transcend across different countries in various application domains such as industrial operations to transportation fuel.
Project benefits include:
- Improved energy security in the region
- Reduced the numerator carbon emissions from logistics operations
- Creation of job facilities in the renewable field
- Technology Demonstration for future projects
This strategic partnership of Plug Power and Hy2gen marks a huge step forward in the construction of a hydrogen economy in Europe. The Sunrhyse project will establish a model for future hydrogen production from renewable energy in a manner that will represent international cooperation because, of course, one way to speed up a transition to a sustainable energy model.
