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Hydrogen in Dunkirk area

AT THE HEART OF EUROPEAN PROJECTS

European countries are structuring themselves in order to develop a hydrogen sector.

23 European companies in the gas infrastructure sector including GRTgaz and Fluxys have developed the concept of a European hydrogen transport backbone.
Named the “European Hydrogen Backbone”, it is a hydrogen transport network with a dedicated pipeline, largely reusing existing gas infrastructures throughout more than 21 European countries.
Thanks to these infrastructures, a truly integrated hydrogen market will ensure competitive prices and a secure supply, thereby guaranteeing that converting to hydrogen remains relevant for industrialists.

>> Because of its exceptional cross-border location close to these infrastructures, Dunkirk will be connected to the European Hydrogen Backbone.

DUNKIRK IS ABOUT TO BECOME THE FIRST HYDROGEN HUB IN FRANCE.

Dunkirk is home to the low carbon hydrogen production sector.

Today, the territory is deemed the vital link in the development of the French hydrogen sector, since on the industrial-port platform we find:

Industrialists seeking decarbonisation solutions
Co-product resources that can be recovered
Simple and safe access to low carbon energy
Existing high-quality infrastructures and ambitious upcoming projects designed to host the H₂ sector.

Find out how Dunkirk has become France’s first hydrogen hub!

150 KT

per year of green hydrogen will be necessary to decarbonise Dunkirk’s industry

13.7 MT

per year of CO₂ emissions will be avoided by 2050 thanks to the roll-out of CO₂ and H₂ Hubs in Dunkirk

3 BN

euro investment will be required to decarbonise the Dunkirk industrial basin between 2021 and 2030

+20,000

jobs will be created because of the decarbonisation of processes and the H₂ sector roll-out

DISCOVER SOME OF DUNKIRK’S CURRENT AND UPCOMING H2 SECTOR PROJECTS

Green H₂ production – H2V59

The H2V59 hydrogen production site located in Loon-Plage will produce almost 28,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year by 2024-2025 thanks to the electrolysis of water. This will represent almost 3% of French production and will help avoid the annual emission of 280,000 tonnes of CO₂, or the equivalent of 160,000 cars. An extension is planned by 2028.

Direct Reduced Iron Project: ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal will produce low-carbon steel on its Dunkirk site by combining DRI and submerged arc furnace technologies. AirLiquide will provide support and expertise by supplying massive amounts of low-carbon hydrogen and rolling out CO₂ capture technologies on site.

Projet Little Cithy – Engie

GRHYD, France’s first power-to-gas project, carried out in Cappelle-la-Grande and led by ENGIE in partnership with the CUD and nine other partners, has demonstrated the technical feasibility and environmental relevance of greener city gas, with very promising results.

20% hydrogen by volume in natural gas leads to:
↘- 6% CO2 emissions (20 t CO2 eq. avoided per year),
↘-63% CO,
↘-42% NOx.

D’Artagnan – AirLiquide

The D’Artagnan project involves rolling out a full Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) chain which will connect Dunkirk’s main industrial emitters and its hinterland to CO₂ storage areas being developed in the North Sea for permanent CO₂ sequestration.

SHYMED – HYNAMICS

The SHYMED project (Solution HYdrogène pour la Mobilité Electrique du Dunkerquois) is a green hydrogen production and distribution station.

Alongside Hynamics (the EDF Group’s hydrogen subsidiary), the Dunkirk Urban Community and the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations are developing the Shymed project to build a 1.25 MW renewable hydrogen production and distribution station next to the Dunkirk Energy Recovery Center. The hydrogen produced by water electrolysis will be used to fuel the first hydrogen-powered vehicles in the Dunkirk urban community (hydrogen-powered electric buses and household waste collection trucks). From summer 2025, the station will initially produce 500 kg of green hydrogen per day. In a second phase, its production capacity could increase significantly to supply other hydrogen-powered vehicles in the region or local industries.

FINANCIAL AID APLENTY

European Union

The EU has allocated a budget of 95.5 billion euros to the “Horizon Europe” plan, for research and innovation in the field of energy and climate-related activities. There are other specific packages to complement it.

MORE INFO ON EU FUNDING

The French State

France 2030 is a major French State investment plan with a total budget of 30 billion euros, including 8 billion for energy and 4 billion for the “transport of the future”.

ALL ABOUT FRANCE 2030

The Hauts-de-France region

The Third Industrial Revolution in the Hauts-De-France region (Rev3) has an investment fund of 1.3 billion euros used to sustain efforts to strengthen the sustainable economy.

ALL ABOUT REV3

Greater Dunkirk Urban Council

The Greater Dunkirk urban Council (CUD) has received a 37.5 million euro package to accelerate the decarbonisation of the industrial and port platform as part of the “Dunkirk, Creative Energy” territorial project.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DUNKIRK CREATIVE ENERGY

DUNKIRK, A TURNKEY TERRITORY TO HOST THE HYDROGEN SECTOR

Accredited as a “Choose France” Turnkey Industrial Territory because of its simplified and accelerated processes, Dunkirk is the ideal territory for your hydrogen-related decarbonisation projects.

Suitable property offers:

Located on port land holdings, the Major Industries Area (ZGI) is a 125-hectare “Choose France” turnkey site. Already up and running, it is intended for large industrial projects. The Major Industries Area (ZGI) is located in the immediate vicinity of the drinking and industrial water networks, gas network and fibre optic network and has exceptional electricity connection capacities. The Grand Port Maritime of Dunkirk is getting ready for the territory’s energy transition by developing new activity areas dedicated to decarbonisation by preparing the networks linked to future needs (hydrogen, water and electricity). Dunkirk Port is currently working on the eastward extension of this activity area, which will eventually double its surface area.
Another “turnkey” certified site, Dunkirk International Logistics (DLI) is a space intended for logistics and port activities. It is also an asset for companies seeking simplified management of the hydrogen sector supply chain, too.

IMPORTANT AND ACCESSIBLE NETWORKS

For years now, Dunkirk has been preparing to welcome projects related to industry decarbonisation. And today, the infrastructures are ready:

A very high voltage network spanning 8.700 km, Dunkirk has a powerful and reliable electric network ready to meet the needs of decarbonised H₂ production.
The LNG terminal facilities (2^nd largest in Europe), the pipeline system connected to the Air Liquide site and the gas distribution networks are also well developed.
Industrial water networks and the heat superhighway

A buoyant market

Industrialists here have estimated that their low carbon hydrogen requirements to decarbonise their industrial processes will be 150 KT per year by 2028. The immediate sale of the green hydrogen produced on site is thus guaranteed.

ACCESS TO LOW CARBON ENERGY

The Dunkirk region strengthens its status as a major European energy platform with:

Gravelines Nuclear Power Station, Europe’s most important power plant, produced 28.8 TWh of electricity without emitting any CO₂ in 2023.
A solar park located in the port area that will provide 40 MW from 2026.
An offshore windfarm off the coast of Dunkirk with a 600 MW capacity by 2027.

AN INCUBATOR SPECIFICALLY FOR H2 SECTOR PROFESSIONALS

The Afpa (an adult education and training organisation) and France Hydrogène have signed a partnership to support the development of the skills and trades in the hydrogen sector. After a survey of the hydrogen sector’s training needs and the existing offer was conducted, the Afpa developed a regional incubator programme for jobs in hydrogen, including in Dunkirk, specialising in hydrogen production in particular. The Afpa anticipates three major job categories: operators, production technicians and maintenance agents.