The largest green hydrogen production site in France soon launched

A solar farm on the old refinery of La Mède (13) - Total photo

A few kilometers from Marseille, an old oil refinery will accommodate the most powerful renewable hydrogen electrolyser in France.It will be directly powered by a 100 MW solar farms complex via a direct current link.

Passed from crude oil to agrofuels, the total refinery of the Mède in the Bouches-du-Rhône will soon house a giant electrolyser.The energy company has teamed up with Engie to build the largest hydrogen production site of renewable origin in France.The project, called "Masshylia" in reference to the nearby town of Marseille, must produce 5 tonnes of this gas daily.It will be powered by sunscreen combining 100 MW, connected directly via a line in direct current.

Hydrogen to make biodiesel

With a power of 40 MW, the electrolyser will mainly be used for the production processes of "bioraffinery".This manufactures fuels of plant origin and in particular the very controversial Biodiesel, obtained from palm oil.Only a fraction of hydrogen will be marketed to external customers.

The photovoltaic panels generating current intermittently, the site will benefit from a "large" storage unit.Thus, the hydrogen diet can be done permanently, despite the variations in solar.

Up to 15 tonnes of hydrogen per day in the future

According to the two energy giants, the installation will avoid the rejection of 15.000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.A volume called to increase since Total and Engie plan to connect other solar parks in the future.The objective is, in the long term, to bring the production capacity of renewable hydrogen to 15 tonnes per day.

The work must start in 2022 and the first cubic meters of hydrogen generated in 2024.The project is currently awaiting financial support and necessary administrative authorizations.Its cost is estimated at 160 million euros by the Capenergie competitiveness center.