The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Région presents IMAGHyNE, winner of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership large scale valley call in 2023
The IMAGHyNE project brings together more than 40 French and European partners in 6 different countries (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Switzerland). The 6-year project (2024-2029) has a budget of €200 million and a total grant of €20 million from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.
IMAGHyNE (Investments to Maximise the Ambition for Green Hydrogen iN Europe), coordinated by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Région, is the only European project to have won the 2023 call for projects for the Greater Hydrogen Valley. The official launch of this major project took place on 12 February at the Hotel de Région in Lyon, under the presidency of Laurent Wauquiez, president of the Auvergne- Rhône-Alpes Région and in presence of Thierry KOVACS, vice-president in charge of environment and positive ecology.
IMAGHyNE paves the way for the deployment of a large-scale renewable hydrogen economy in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Région, fully integrated in the energy system and adressing the challenges of high-emission sectors such as mobility and industry.
The objectives of the project are :
- Deploy 57 MW of new electrolysis capacity, to produce 8,000 t/year of low-carbon hydrogen, half of which will be 100% renewable with the aim of accelerating the transition and achieve a fully renewable-oriented economy.
- Implement a flexible hydrogen supply chain combining over 40t of underground storage and
deliveries by tube-trailers.
- Rely on a network of 13 hydrogen refuelling stations already financed by other sources.
- Deploy 203 fuel cell road vehicles for heavy duty vehicles, 63 off-road fuel cell vehicles and a back-up generator on the airport site.
- Design industrial clusters gathering multi-users around the production sites IMAGHyNE will meet the requirements and ambitions of the Clean hydrogen Partnership's "large escale hydrogen valley" call for projects and contribute to the European hydrogen strategy.
IMAGHyNE will promote the development of a sustainable H2 economy through:
- The extension of the valley, including the development of a pipelines connecting the future European backbone and the transition of industrial players, observers of the project,
- An ambitious replication strategy with at least 5 European territories, airports and mountain
ecosystems,
- Broad communication and dissemination, including training and information to public,
- Recommendations to public authorities, particularly on regulations.
This ambition will be achieved thanks to the involvement of public and private partners covering the
whole hydrogen value chain. IMAGHyNE partners will work collectively to create links and synergies
with existing and future valleys already supported by the CHP.
"By coordinating the IMAGHyNE project, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Région reaffirms its position as
pioneer Region in hydrogen sector in Europe. Following the Zero Emission Valley project launched in
2018 aiming to deploy 15 stations across the region, the IMAGHyNE project - large scale Hydrogen
Valley - will, by 2029, produce 8,000 tons of low-carbon hydrogen per year, store more than 40 tons
of hydrogen and co-finance more than 250 heavy-duty vehicles. IMAGHyNE gives an exceptional
visibility to the concept of positive ecology that we are promoting within the Region with Thierry
KOVACS, Vice-President in charge of environment and positive ecology", Laurent WAUQUIEZ, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Région.
"With its impressive number of hydrogen-powered applications, IMAGHyNE will be a valuable showcase
for the entire industry and serve as a blueprint for similar Hydrogen Valleys across Europe.
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is proud to support the development of this large-scale Hydrogen Valley which will contribute to the transition to a zero-emission hydrogen economy of an entire region.
Building on the rich industrial know-how of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Région, including its numerous automobile manufacturers and the pioneering renewable hydrogen storage facility at Etrez (Hypster), I am confident that this European collaboration has the potential to drive innovation, generate employment opportunities, and address the environmental challenges of our times.” says Mirela Atanasiu, Executive Director ad interim of Clean Hydrogen Partnership.
The european commission, through the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, has provided funding for 3 small scale projects in the 2023 call and kick-off-meetings are forthcoming.
