2021 was a decisive year for hydrogen mobility. Seen as a solution for sustainable enregy, hydrogen is attracting the interest of investors and governments from all Europe. In France, the government revised upwards the hydrogen fundings with an additional €2bn on top of the initial €7bn enveloppe. Barbara Pompili, the Minister for Ecological Transition, has also declared “It’s a huge boost, with a simple objective, to build a French carbon-free hydrogen sector, of international scope, with 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions saved in 2030”.

Tthe latest IRENA report from january 2022 (International Renewable Energy Agency) estimated that hydrogen, which currently represents 0.1% of the energy consumed in the world, would represent 12% by 2050. This significant progress is due to the ambition of major industrial players willing to accelerate their energy transition.

For Atawey, 2022 will be the year of achievements. The Moûtiers station, initiated last October, will fully take up its duties this year in order to supply the city’s fleet of professional vehicles. An energy shift taken by the Mayor of Moûtiers, Fabrice Pannekoucke, in order to decarbonize the valley. The capacity of this new hydrogen station will eventually supply 200 kg/d, i.e. 5 times the capacity of the Chambéry station.

This year, Atawey will also deliver the first mobile stations. Intended for vehicle tests and demonstrations, they will also serve as temporary stations for ecosystems willing to have a permanent station. They will be available from April and are on pre-order today.

Thanks to the growth of hydrogen mobility and the development of new products and services, Atawey is once again strengthening its teams this year. As a reminder, Atawey has gone from 28 to 40 employees in 2021, with the ambition of reaching 60 employees by the end of 2022. With a particular strengthening of the sales team for the European market.

As the leader in green hydrogen stations in France, the company has strong targets in Europe. Atawey meets the needs and requirements of each company, with a solution adapted to its energy transition problem. Each project is unique, with its specificities and constraints. The teams are indeed trained to support hydrogen projects over the long term and drive them to succeed!

2021 was a decisive year for the rise of hydrogen projects around the world and particularly in France. The press as well as politicians have communicated extensively in recent months on the importance of hydrogen to reduce our carbon footprint.

There is a real desire to move forward and the desire to achieve successful decarbonization in France. The efforts are relentless, both on the side of the industrial entites and the government. Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Recovery also declared: “I consider that we have the capacity to be the world green hydrogen leader. [We have] the technologies, the public subsidies, the industrial network and the common will: this is a guarantee of success and I am sure that when it comes to green hydrogen, we will succeed.” It was indeed during this speech of September 30, 2021 that the Minister mentioned the various “evidences” of the future energy transition. He pointed out that energy resources are vital on a daily basis, both for heating and mobility.

Fossil fuels exploitation and use have a considerable impact on the environment. These energy sources, emitting carbon dioxide (CO2), are partly responsible for climate change and the decline in air quality. Decarbonization and energy sovereignty can go hand in hand. Also, he also reminds us that we are, in France, in the process of consolidating our energy independence, thanks to the continuous efforts from all the actors in the chain.

Atawey, a major player in the rise of hydrogen on the territory, worked hard this year to decarbonize mobility in several cities in France. 7 hydrogen stations have therefore been installed by Atawey in 2021, bringing the total number of stations in the territory to 23. The one in Chambéry, installed in 2020, has been very successful and carried out more than 1,000 fill-ups in 2021, 80% of which at a pressure of 700 bar. Nearly 4 fill-ups per day on average: a proof of the hydrogen mobility success with professional cars regular recharges that require optimum availability and service!

Atawey also continues to innovate, particularly through its mobile hydrogen station. Intended for vehicle tests and demonstrations, as well as temporary applications on construction sites and for events, this new solution improves access to vehicle charging, speeding up hydrogen mobility development. This mobile station, an ADEME innovation award-winner, is available for pre-order for first deliveries from April 2022. These developments have enabled Atawey to expand, both in terms of its premises than the size of its teams. As a reminder, Atawey went from 28 to 40 employees in 2021, with the ambition of reaching 150 employees within 3 years. And for 2022, Atawey is already at the forefront of the hydrogen scene with:
– The launch of the mobile station scheduled for the first half of 2022
– The commissioning of the Moûtiers station. The symbolic laying of the first stone took place last October. The station will eventually supply fleets of buses, garbage trucks, utility vehicles and even snow groomers for surrounding slopes.

The entire Atawey team wishes you all the best for 2022 ! Let’s continue to move forward together towards a sustainable future!

Government ambitions are in favor of green hydrogen! Indeed, the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region Laurent Wauquiez recently presented the Mountain Plan II. This plan aims for the Alps to become the first sustainable mountain in Europe. The region is also the cradle for the national excellence for hydrogen with 80% of the players in the sector. He recently declared: “Tomorrow, our mountains will be real showcases of the economic dynamism of our region and of the innovation of our entrepreneurs. The mountain of tomorrow is also the one our children are discovering, it is the one our children know […] We protect our mountains, which are dynamic, lively and respectful of the environment. ” President Emmanuel Macron has put in place a “France 2030” plan in favor of green hydrogen to revitalize the economic and industrial network of the sector. The political goal is clear: strengthen French skills in green hydrogen and develop hydrogen industry flagships companies. This is why the budget forecasts have been revised upwards with an additional € 2bn added to the initial plan of € 7bn.

Government actions, through ecological transition agencies such as ADEME and regional projects such as Zero Emission Valley, is leading more and more cities to shift towards green mobility. The Zero Emission Valley project aims at developing clean hydrogen mobility project across the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes territory to meet the ambition of a sustainable and carbon-free region. Since then, many regions have followed suit in order to mesh the national territory.

It is within the framework of Zero Emission Valley that the town of Moûtiers decided to set up a hydrogen station and lower the valley’s carbon footprint. It therefore becomes the third city in the project to install one and adds up to Chambéry and Clermont-Ferrand, which also have an Atawey station. Moûtiers has chosen hydrogen technology for its fleet of professional vehicles. The hydrogen station will soon supply buses, garbage trucks, utility vehicles and even snow groomers. The installation of this hydrogen station is a step forward in the networking of the regional territory, in a valley where the road mobility of individuals and professionals have a strong impact on the environment. The tourist seasonality has a great impact on the territory and has therefore a strong strategic weight. The hydrogen station will eventually have a capacity to supply 200 kg per day, five times more than the first station located in Chambéry. The symbolic cornerstone was laid last October in the company of Jean-Michel Amaré, CEO of Atawey and Fabrice Pannekoucke, mayor of Moûtiers. The mayor of the Tarentaise capital said he was very proud to be able to benefit from this hydrogen charging station where air quality is essential.

Hydrogen needs are increasing. Facing the growing importance of this demand, Atawey has increased its workforce; in 2021, the number of its employees rose from 25 to 40. Ambitions are strong on the side of the French start-up, which is doing everything it can to meet growing market demand. As a consequence, hiring forecasts are significant, with the goal of reaching 150 people by 2025.

While hydrogen buses are deployed in many cities in Europe, pioneered by Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, interest in this environmentally friendly alternative has emerged in France more recently. We are now seeing a rapid increase in the number of communities in France announcing deployments of this new zero-emission technology. In fact, France is the country with the most hydrogen bus projects planned and in the top 3 countries with the most buses in commercial operation. To date, 26 hydrogen electric buses are already in circulation in France, and 28 in the coming weeks.

Hydrogen buses offer great autonomy and rapid recharging. In fact, the range of hydrogen buses is estimated at 300 km, i.e. journeys as long as those served by thermic vehicles. The estimated time to refill a hydrogen bus tank is between 10 and 20 minutes depending on the manufacturer and model. In addition, hydrogen electric vehicles emit only small quantities of steam water, no pollutants nor greenhouse gases. They are also known to be particularly quiet. In this sense, they are the only zero-emission solution with short recharging times and range similar to conventional buses.

Investments are important, both for buses and for refueling stations. This is why national environment state agencies, such as ADEME in France, support the deployment of hydrogen projects. These are therefore arousing growing interest from hydrogen project holders. The goal of these national agencies is to help hydrogen ecosystems, combining the infrastructure for hydrogen production and distribution and the vehicles.

To convince public transport project holders, several hydrogen bus companies such as Safra, Solaris, Vanhool or Caetano, in partnership with Toyota, are offering to test a vehicle for a short period of time. Another option is to convert a diesel bus to a hydrogen bus: a retrofit. This is the option chosen by the Normandy region for its regional line Nomad car express Evreux-Rouen (illustration). The retrofitted coach will refuel at the Evreux hydrogen station, supplied by Atawey.

But how to test a hydrogen bus without a refueling station? Atawey supplies a mobile hydrogen refueling station on a rental basis, capable of supplying several heavy vehicles. This station is intended for demonstrations and tests for communities willing to validate a hydrogen bus line project. Atawey is at the service of local authorities and project holders. At the end of these tests, provided the community successfully managed to set up a hydrogen zero carbon mobility project on its territory, Atawey will be able to offer an scalable hydrogen station, capable of permanently supplying the bus fleet.

Atawey will be present at the European Zero Emission Bus conference to be held in Paris on November 17 and 18, 2021. This conference will bring together manufacturers, operators, policy makers and industrialists, to discuss the solutions and challenges of decarbonizing public transport.

Atawey, one of the French leaders in hydrogen refueling stations, is launching its new mobile hydrogen station. Able to supply several heavy goods vehicles and ready to operate in only half a day, the fastest on the market, it overcomes the barriers linked to hydrogen refueling and projects set-up.

There is a momentum for hydrogen deployment at European (hydrogen roadmap in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, etc.), national and regional levels. Atawey has been designing and manufacturing green hydrogen stations for nearly 10 years and consolidates its position as a major player in favor of carbon-free mobility.

The Atawey mobile hydrogen station: a response to a booming market

Ready to operate in only half a day, the Atawey mobile hydrogen station is designed to be set up in complete autonomy by the operator. The commissioning is simplified thanks to the process automation and intuitive control screens. The target: anytime, anywhere, hydrogen.

The mobile station addresses the following markets: vehicle tests and demonstrations, temporary applications on construction sites and for events, and will also serve as a temporary station (for project holders awaiting a permanent station) or as a back-up for fixed station under maintenance. This solution accelerates hydrogen mobility deployment by improving access to vehicle refueling (buses, coaches, trucks, dumpsters, vans, etc.). The Atawey mobile hydrogen station is available for pre-order today and first deliveries from April 2022.

The mobile station is developed and produced in the Atawey plant, based in Savoie Technolac, in Bourget-du-Lac (73), France. The company promotes local sourcing and controls the entire design, production and quality chain of its products.

Technical specifications & innovation

• Ready to operate in ½ day: the fastest set up on the market. Made possible thanks to automatic tests and resistance to transport.

• Flexible hydrogen supply: station on trailer or on the ground, external supply by connection of frames / tube trailers or directly to a fixed hydrogen station, source hydrogen pressure from 200 to 500bar.
• High performance options: 350 and 700 bar distribution, quick refueling (pre-cooling), battery-powered distribution

Link to the Press release

Energy transition is becoming increasingly important in the recent years. Large cities and capitals are actively thinking about their decarbonisation and preparing to step up their efforts in favor of soft mobility.

The role of local communities and companies is essential in the development of the hydrogen sector in order to synchronize as well as possible the emergence of the offer and the development of the demand.

The stakes are high and EU Member States have made hydrogen a top investment priority. Moreover, France and Germany, two pioneer countries in this innovation, have announced their intention to spend respectively 7 and 9 billion public funds to hydrogen over the next ten years. Indeed, the hydrogen market is gaining more and more weight in France and in Europe. By 2030 we expect 300,000 light vehicles, 5,000 heavy goods vehicles or buses, 250 trains and 1,000 boats that will run on hydrogen. To ensure this expansion, no less than 3,000 charging stations will be needed to supply this fleet.

For the time being, Atawey is concentrating most of its efforts on supplying the French hydrogen station network with scalable hydrogen stations and paving the way for successful decarbonization. To maintain its position as a pioneer of green hydrogen stations in France, Atawey has set itself strong ambitions. In fact, Atawey aims to deploy 150 stations over the next five years, to retain its 40% market share in France and to be positioned as a main player in Europe. To support this ambition and mass deployment, Atawey is preparing to multiply by 5 the number of its employees over the next three years, from 30 to 150 employees. A new fundraising is also planned for this year in order to finance and accelerate the development of this project. Great ambitions we are prepared to take up proudly !

In order to meet hydrogen players and communicate about our solutions, Atawey will be present this last quarter of 2021 at several exhibitions. First in Dunkirk at the Hydrogen Days in the Territories for an 8th edition from September 8th to 10th, then at f-cell in Stuttgart on September 14th & 15th, stand 33, at the Hyvolution show in Paris on October 27th & 28th, stand E26, at the TBB in Berlin on November 3rd and 4th, and finally in Paris at the Musée de la Chimie for the Zero Emission Bus conference on November 17th and 18th.

In September 2020, the French government announces a 7-billion-euros hydrogen roadmap. In the process, the French environmental institution, ADEME, opened calls for projects. At European level, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Finland and Spain also support hydrogen development. A enthusiasm conducive to development, as illustrated by the partnership between the companies Atawey and Ergosup.

Sustainable mobility is today considered as one of the key drivers of the energy transition: an attractiveness, source of new proposals, which has recently found an echo through the latest government policies regarding green hydrogen. “By 2030, we estimate that it will be 300,000 light vehicles, 5,000 heavy goods vehicles and buses, 250 trains and 1,000 boats that will run on hydrogen in Europe. Today, hydrogen pilot projects are led by pioneer companies or communities. They have to focus to create hydrogen ecosystems and rapidly scale up.” explains Jean-Michel Amaré, President and co-founder of Atawey.

And precisely, the two companies, ERGOSUP and ATAWEY have recently set up a high-level partnership, combining the complementary advantages of the two players to be leaders on the light mobility segment.

 “Our two companies have decided to cooperate together to develop and market a hydrogen production and distribution station. On the one hand, there is Atawey: already present in the market for small and medium-sized green hydrogen charging stations. On the other hand, Ergosup: a startup reknown for innovating in the process of storing and converting electricity into pressurized hydrogen, without a mechanical compressor. It is an asset providing a competitive advantage for small capacity high pressure solutions. Together, we are thus going to develop the “ATAWEY-ERGOSUP Inside” station, intended for the hydrogen mobility sector. Its goal? initiating hydrogen mobility for cars, bicycles and other emerging light applications”, explains Lucile Voiron, director of the company Ergosup.

A large-scale partnership, paving the way to new perspectives at the national level, but not only…

A sustainable partnership

The collaboration will be commercial and technical. The two companies wish to accelerate the development of a new hydrogen station. They will enable to answer rapidly and efficiently to new mobility challenges. Ergosup electrolysis technology, based on the electrochemistry of zinc, winner of the Concours Mondial de l’Innovation (World Innovation Competition), stands out by separation over time of the release of gaseous oxygen and hydrogen. This process is offering High Pressure hydrogen without a mechanical compressor. While Ergosup technology incorporates new storage, compression and energy recovery functions, Atawey leading position in the hydrogen mobility market will allow the solution to be marketed. Therefore, this colllaboration enables territorial networks in the short term, as well as the deployment of new hydrogen ecosystems. Moreover, the two companies now wish to intensify their development in order to best support the energy transition. One evidence is Atawey’s selection to supply Zero Emission Valley, a European project dedicated to hydrogen mobility deployment. On Ergosup’s side, the goal is to extend its technology to other segments. Its latest proposal, the Hydrone is a plug & play bottle charging station at 300 bars allowing the autonomy of an electric drone to be increased to 6-7 hours.

Once more, the brilliant illustration of the “Made in France” know-how …

Two new hydrogen charging stations were installed in May 2021 by Atawey. Supported by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the towns of Vichy and Brides-les-Bains have relied on hydrogen bikes and their charging stations to promote soft mobility. These bikes developed by Pragma allow curists and others to cycle around hilly landscapes effortless. In just a 2-minutes charge at 300 bars, the hydrogen bike offers performance and 150-km autonomy, all with green energy!

“The municipality wants to develop soft mobility on its territory, allowing a smooth return to physical activity to our thermal clients, usually overweight. One of the pillars of our thermal know-how, in addition to water, care, diet and physical activity. Given our geographical location and the hilly landscape, hydrogen e-bikes have become obvious.” comments a Brides-les-Bains representative. A few weeks after the launch of the day or half-day rental offer and a discovery weekend for the Brides-les-Bains citizens, the feedback from users is very positive: “A real success, with very positive feedback on bikes. Hydrogen also arouses curiosity. Our aim is to introduce the hydrogen e-bikes in Brides-les-Bains. Combining soft mobility and green energy is a strong asset and a development goal for our municipality.”

Indeed, the installed Spring-1-300 stations are ecological because they produce hydrogen on site, from water and electricity from renewable energies, thanks to an on-board electrolyzer. The station can produce 0.5kg of green hydrogen per day and distribute up to 1kg per day. Compact – the size of a parking space – the installation is quick and easy, right in the heart of cities. A prime location to serve as many people as possible and benefit from maximum visibility.

These two new stations come on top of the two stations in operation in Chambéry and Le Bourget du Lac. Two other cities in the Region have already ordered their hydrogen station for bicycles for delivery in the second half of 2021.

The President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Mr. Laurent Wauquiez, inaugurated the Vichy station in May. Indeed, hydrogen is on the strategic roadmap for the industrial ecosystem and carbon-free mobility of the AuRA Region. In addition to these 6 hydrogen stations for bicycles, the Region is investing in Hympulsion for the development of the network of stations for cars. Hydrogen pioneers, such as Vicat or the Taxis de Chautagne, are already filling up their tanks with hydrogen at the Chambéry station built by Atawey. The infrastructure is being put in place today for the mobility of tomorrow.

A model for green mobility in the Pacific region

Christopher GYGES, member of the government in charge of the energy sector, Gilbert TYUIENON, member of the government in charge of the transport sector, as well as two representatives of ENGIE Solutions, François LAFOREST and Philippe MEHRENBERGER participated on December 16, 2020 in the inauguration of the first hydrogen station in Nouvelle-Calédonie, designed and installed by ATAWEY.

Taking part in the deployment of hydrogen mobility in Nouvelle-Calédonie is a great source of pride for Atawey. This project responds to the island’s energy transition challenges: doubling the share of renewables in the energy mix and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector by 15%. The installation of this first station together with the purchase of two vehicles aims to demonstrate the attractiveness of hydrogen mobility: clean, silent, with great autonomy.

Because the hydrogen market is constantly changing, it is important to offer solutions that meet today’s challenges while being flexible for tomorrow. This is why ATAWEY green hydrogen station range includes solutions for pilot hydrogen mobility projects as well as evolutive stations for networking regions. Being as close as possible to market needs made it possible for Atawey to be a market leader on small and medium hydrogen stations today. Atawey now meets the needs of hydrogen station with a capacity from 2kg/day up to 200kg/day, i.e. a fleet of 200 cars.

Manufacturer of hydrogen stations made in France
Atawey hydrogen charging stations are entirely designed and manufactured in France. The majority of our subcontractors are located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and 75% of our purchases and value added come from this same region. In addition, all jobs (design, manufacture, installation, maintenance) related to Atawey hydrogen stations are created in France.

Details of Spring 6 350 hydrogen station

The installed Atawey station is designed to meet the need of hydrogen for a fleet of 1 to 5 vehicles. This Atawey hydrogen station produces green hydrogen on site from electricity from renewable energy and water, thanks to our patented high environmental performance water electrolysis technology embedded in our charging stations. The H2Spring-6-350 station produces 2kg of hydrogen per day and can deliver up to 6kg of hydrogen per day at 350 bar.

This hydrogen station is made up of:
– an electrolyser, which dissociates the hydrogen and oxygen atoms of water by chemical reaction using electricity
– a compressor and gas cylinders to be able to store a maximum of hydrogen
– a 350 bar supply hose for recharging fuel cell vehicles

The hydrogen car will transform hydrogen into electric current using a fuel cell. The current generated will provide energy for the electric motor.

One more step towards hydrogen mobility for professionals
The president of Evreux Portes de Normandie, Guy Lefrand and the president of SIEGE27, Xavier Hubert inaugurated the largest hydrogen charging station in Normandy, designed and manufactured by Atawey.

Atawey is proud to be a key player in deploying hydrogen mobility in France. The creation of regional hubs and regional networks such as EAS-HyMob in Normandy is key to developing professional hydrogen mobility. Building a network of hydrogen stations decreases the access time to stations while increasing the number of filling solutions for users during their activities and trips.
The more hydrogen stations for cars the more use and adoption of this green energy mode. The installation of carbon-free hydrogen stations along the trans-European road transport network aims to avoid 1654t of CO2 per year. 9 hydrogen stations in Normandy will be deployed within the scope of this project. Evreux filling station is the most important one and the most versatile. Developed by Atawey, with a capacity of 50kg, it is the only one of the network capable of supplying a fleet of more than 20 cars. Moreover, it is the only dispenser in Normandy with a double pressure terminal: 700 bars and 350 bars.
Because the hydrogen market is constantly changing, it is important to offer solutions that meet today’s challenges while being flexible for tomorrow. This is why ATAWEY green hydrogen station range includes solutions for pilot hydrogen mobility projects as well as evolutive stations for networking regions. Being as close as possible to market needs made it possible for Atawey to be a market leader on small and medium hydrogen stations today. Atawey now meets the needs of hydrogen station with a capacity up to 200kg/day, i.e. a fleet of 200 cars.

Manufacturer of hydrogen stations made in France
Atawey hydrogen charging stations are entirely designed and manufactured in France. The majority of our subcontractors are located in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and 75% of our purchases and value added come from this same region. In addition, all jobs (design, manufacture, installation, maintenance) related to Atawey hydrogen stations are created in France.

Detail of H2Flow-50-700 station
The installed station is versatile, designed for an intensive use of a fleet of light vehicles. It can supply 50kg of hydrogen per day and delivers a pressure of 350 and 700bar as required by the vehicle manufacturer. For example, the filling of a Toyota Mirai (5kg) is done at 700bar, lasts 3 to 5 minutes and can cover 600km. For a Renault Kangoo, which has a 1.8kg tank at 350bar, refueling takes less than 3 minutes and will allow 200km to be driven on hydrogen in addition to the 100km range on battery.