Global green hydrogen ‘pioneer’ Lhyfe establishes new base in UK-wide expansion

Global green hydrogen pioneer Lhyfe has expanded its UK operation to South Yorkshire with the aim of accelerating the roll-out of the environmentally friendly gas across the region.

The France based multinational has opened a Sheffield office to identify opportunities to deploy production facilities to support businesses and organisations in the drive to net zero. Lhyfe chose Sheffield for expansion due to its “exceptional supply chain potential and strong industry connections, as well as ongoing world-leading hydrogen research.”

The company, which already has a base in Newcastle, is actively exploring various production sites and partnerships nationwide. The new Sheffield office in the Wizu Workspace in the city centre will be headed up by renewable energy expert Stuart Sinclair.

The gas can support the deep decarbonisation of the UK economy, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry, including steelmaking, and transport. The UK Government has doubled its low-carbon hydrogen production target from 5GW to 10 GW by 2030, with at least half of this coming from green hydrogen.

Lhyfe is one of the world’s ‘pioneers’ in producing renewable green hydrogen through water electrolysis, powered by renewable energy, primarily wind and solar power. Water is fed into the electrolyser, which is split into hydrogen and oxygen meaning the only by-product is oxygen.

The hydrogen is then compressed and transported locally from the production unit to various consumers across the region, providing an alternative to fossil fuels and building a local ecosystem.

Its inaugural plant at Pays de La Loire has been operating since the second half of 2021, and an additional six sites across Europe are currently under construction. Lhyfe aims its production capacity to reach up to 22 tons of green hydrogen per day by end 2024 and up to 80 tons per day by end 2026.

Since the launch of its UK operation last year, the British team has grown to six staff members, with a recruitment drive underway to bolster plant deployment. The company is currently hiring for a bids and funding manager, and a project development manager.

Stuart Sinclair, Offshore Deployment UK and Ireland at Lhyfe, commented: “At Lhyfe, we are already demonstrating that green hydrogen is now a reality and a key driver of the clean energy transition. Sheffield is at the epicentre of the development of the UK’s hydrogen economy and we look forward to playing our part in its growth.

“The city boasts exceptional supply chain potential and strong industry connections, as well as ongoing world-leading hydrogen research and development. We’re excited to offer our expertise to potential partners and fast-track the shift toward a sustainable future.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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