A major leap toward cleaner transportation has arrived in central France. The first green hydrogen refueling station in the Centre-Val de Loire region officially opened on May 15, 2024, in Sorigny near Tours. This milestone project is now fully operational at the Isoparc business park and open to the public.
The station brings innovative technology to the region, combining mechanical and thermochemical compression systems. This hybrid approach makes hydrogen compression more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective. The station serves as a real-world demonstration site for the COSMHYC DEMO project, tackling key challenges in delivering clean hydrogen for vehicles and industrial uses.
Hybrid compression technology creates a more efficient, reliable pathway for hydrogen to power our clean transportation future.
Local officials gathered with representatives from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and industry partners for the inauguration. The station was officially inaugurated by the municipal group, marking the importance of this renewable energy milestone. The station’s strategic location one kilometre from A10 makes it ideally positioned to serve various hydrogen-powered fleets. The Touraine Vallée de l’Indre Community of Municipalities (CCTVI) played a vital role in bringing the project to life. The station received funding through the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, showing how public and private groups can work together on clean energy projects.
For Indre-et-Loire, the station marks a significant step in becoming a regional leader in hydrogen mobility. The next phase will include the Hy’Touraine project to create local green hydrogen production. This development mirrors the collaborative efforts seen across America’s seven hydrogen hubs, where diverse stakeholders are uniting for both economic and environmental goals. This will build a complete hydrogen ecosystem in central France, supporting more sustainable transportation options.
The Sorigny station contributes to France’s growing hydrogen network, which aims to have at least 150 stations by 2025. It aligns with broader European efforts to shift away from fossil fuels, with countries like Germany, the UK, and Netherlands also expanding their hydrogen infrastructure.
By providing green hydrogen for vehicles, the station helps reduce carbon emissions from transportation. It gives businesses and individuals access to cleaner fuel options and demonstrates how renewable energy can work in everyday transportation.
The successful launch of this station could serve as a model for future hydrogen facilities throughout the Centre-Val de Loire region, connecting to planned production sites and expanding clean mobility options for more communities.
References
- https://idw-online.de/en/news852398
- https://www.qcintel.com/hydrogen/article/french-municipal-group-opens-new-hydrogen-station-near-tours-41311.html
- https://www.threads.com/@fuelcellsworks_com/post/DJuH8eXOrbE/indre-et-loire-opens-centre-val-de-loires-first-green-hydrogen-refueling-station
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3GZDMANls0
- https://hydrogeneurope.eu/first-green-hydrogen-refueling-station-opened-in-indre-et-loire-marking-regional-milestone/
