TotalEnergies and AirLiquide plan 100 HGV hydrogen refuelling stations

Infographic outlining hydrogen fuel production (Photo: TotalEnergies)

TotalEnergies and Air Liquide are to create an equal-partnership joint venture to develop a network of hydrogen refuelling stations for HGVs operating across Europe.

The partners are planning to install more than 100 hydrogen stations on major transport corridors in France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

The goal is to facilitate access to hydrogen and so support a greater number of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. This should help to further decarbonise road transport operations.

The two companies will pool their knowledge covering infrastructure development, hydrogen distribution and mobility.

TotalEnergies, which will operate the refuelling stations, with deliver its operational expertise and market the fuel to business customers. Air Liquide will bring its experience covering the entire hydrogen value chain.

“After the recent signing of a partnership for the production of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen on our zero-oil platform at Grandpuits, we are pleased to join forces again with Air Liquide and to continue our joint efforts for the decarbonization of mobility. Pioneers in hydrogen mobility, we are convinced of the need to embark now on the construction of a HGV network from which our customers will be able to benefit” said Thierry Pflimlin, Chief Marketing & Services officer at TotalEnergies

Matthieu Giard, vice president and member of the Executive Committee at Air Liquide, added: “Hydrogen has real advantages for heavy mobility. In order to promote its large-scale use, it is essential to accelerate the development of refuelling infrastructures and to offer vehicle manufacturers and transport operators a sufficiently dense network of stations.”

The joint venture will be formalised over 2023.

In November 2021, TotalEnergies reported that it would work with Daimler Truck to develop an ‘ecosystem’ for hydrogen-powered heavy goods vehicles. Details of the venture included a plan to introduce up to 150 hydrogen refuelling stations across northern Europe by 2030.

No timeframe for the project with Air Liquide was given. A request for this information has been forwarded to TotalEnergies.