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Category: News & Hydrogen

6 October 2023

H2 ecosystems: a new step for Atawey

With more than ten years’ experience and expertise in the design, manufacture and distribution of hydrogen refueling stations, Atawey, a key player in the hydrogen mobility sector, has in just a few years become the French leader in hydrogen refueling stations (with more than 40% of stations installed by the end of 2022). Thanks to its expertise, its wide range of modular and scalable stations, and its in-depth knowledge of H2 ecosystems, Atawey is also as a partner for hydrogen mobility players.

From initiating H2 ecosystems

HYVIA, the joint-venture equally owned by Renault Group and Plug dedicated to hydrogen mobility, announced on 29 September that it had chosen Atawey to co-develop a new hydrogen refueling station : “HYWELL^TM by HYVIA”. This station is part of a much bigger project, as HYVIA been able to deploy a complete and unique offer of H₂ ecosystems on the European market.

« I’m delighted and proud of the work accomplished with the ATAWEY team since we decided on this partnership last year. We share the same vision. Our teams are working on a key solution to initiate H₂ ecosystems, ready to support the rapid deployment of intensive H₂ mobility. » – says Franck Potel, Director of Partnerships at HYVIA.

The latest addition to the range of compact stations designed and manufactured by Atawey, this hydrogen refueling station has been sized and designed to support the successive phases of decarbonisation of professional LCV fleets.

« This compact station joins our portfolio of hydrogen refueling stations, a portfolio that is adapted to the different needs of the market. It is the fruit of our expertise and industrial know-how, and reflects our ability to support hydrogen players from the earliest stages of their projects, offering them a solution tailored to their specific needs. », says Pierre-Jean Bonnefond, co-founder and Managing Director of Atawey.

Thanks to its Compact and Plug & Play architecture, this station can be deployed quickly and easily on the most constrained installation sites, requiring little civil engineering and simplifying administrative procedures.

Thanks to the integration of the MC Formula system to optimise filling time for users, and a bigger compression and storage capacity than previous versions of compact stations, this new hydrogen refueling station has been designed to optimise the user experience. The station has a distribution capacity of 100 kg/day of H₂ and can refuel 20 to 25 vehicles.

Another advantage is that the investment and operating costs of this new station make it possible to initiate carbon-free mobility H₂ ecosystems very easily.

« This station once again demonstrates Atawey’s ability to support hydrogen players. We had already proved this with our mobile station, which was deployed as part of the ‘Hynova’ project. Because for regulatory reasons relating to port areas, no other type of hydrogen refueling station could be installed. This mobile station was also adapted to Hyliko’s needs in terms of initiating heavy mobility ecosystems, thanks to a solution that includes trucks and stations ». – says Jean-Michel Amaré, co-founder and chairman of Atawey.

Towards mass deployment of intensive mobility

These projects demonstrate Atawey’s determination to become one of the key players in the French and European H2 ecosystems. From vehicle tests to the initiation of the decarbonization of professional fleets, Atawey is accelerating the deployment of hydrogen mobility.

This acceleration is also reflected in its range of high-capacity hydrogen refueling stations (the evolutive stations), deployed in particular along major European routes by project owners such as HYmpulsion, to support the rise of hydrogen applications.

« Because if there’s one thing to remember about our compact stations, it’s that they’re just the beginning of tomorrow’s mobility. Mobility that will require large-capacity stations, and who today can predict how large they will be ? In any case, Atawey will be there to answer », concluded Pierre-Jean Bonnefond when he spoke at the opening of the HYVIA H₂ Ecosystem Event on Monday 2 October.

More than just a manufacturer of hydrogen refueling stations, Atawey is the partner of choice for accelerating hydrogen mobility all over the world.

News & Hydrogen

26 July 2023

Hydrogen Colours and Refuelling Stations: Between Myths and Realities

Dihydrogen (H₂) — the Molecule of two hydrogen atoms, commonly known as hydrogen — is produced by various methods. Despite being colourless and odourless, hydrogen is adorned with different colours in the energy sector.
Let’s take a closer look at a palette ranging from black to white, including green hydrogen.

The Evolution of Hydrogen Colours in Line with Production Methods

What Are the 12 Colours of Hydrogen?

Hydrogen is categorised by twelve well-defined colours, sometimes with subtle variations:

Brown / Black
Grey
Blue, Turquoise
Pink, Red, Violet, Yellow
Green
White, Orange

Each colour corresponds to the production method or the energy source used. These processes have evolved over the years, increasingly favouring environmentally friendly methods.

Black, Brown, and Grey Hydrogen: Legacies of the Fossil Fuel Industry

Black and Brown Hydrogen are produced by gasification of bituminous coal (black hydrogen) and lignite (brown hydrogen). This process is highly polluting, releasing CO₂ and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.
Grey Hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels, primarily via steam methane reforming (SMR). It is currently the most common form of hydrogen due to its lower production costs. However, this process emits roughly 10 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of hydrogen produced. Although less polluting than coal gasification, it still contributes significantly to CO₂ emissions.

Blue and Turquoise Hydrogen: Early Steps Toward Lower Emissions

Blue Hydrogen is derived from grey hydrogen but involves capturing and storing most of the CO₂ produced, typically underground. Despite this, 10 to 20% of CO₂ emissions remain uncaptured, and methane leaks during production have been noted, so blue hydrogen is often considered a carbon-intensive form.
Turquoise Hydrogen is produced by methane pyrolysis, which heats methane to very high temperatures, producing solid carbon used in products like tires, plastics, and batteries. This method uses natural gas as feedstock, and if the energy for the process is renewable, the overall carbon footprint is close to neutral.

Red, Pink, Violet, Yellow Hydrogen: The Pursuit of Low-Carbon Energy

- - Pink hydrogen is produced by electrolysis using electricity from nuclear plants.
  - Red hydrogen results from high-temperature catalytic splitting of water, with chemical reagents recycled in a closed-loop system.
  - Violet hydrogen is produced by nuclear-powered thermochemical water splitting combining heat and electrolysis.
    Pink, Red, and Violet Hydrogen are generated through water splitting powered by nuclear energy:

- Yellow Hydrogen, also produced by electrolysis, comes from an energy mix with a significant nuclear component.

Green Hydrogen: The Promise of Clean Energy

Green Hydrogen typically refers to hydrogen produced from electricity generated by renewable sources such as solar or wind power. It can also include hydrogen made from other renewables like biogas, biomethane, or organic waste. Currently, the most common green hydrogen production method is water electrolysis.
No CO₂ emissions are associated with green hydrogen production or use. When used in fuel cells, the only by-product is pure water—the same water initially used in production.

White and Orange Hydrogen: The New Frontier?

White Hydrogen refers to naturally occurring hydrogen found deep within the Earth’s crust, requiring no production process. Its extraction resembles natural gas drilling, tapping into natural hydrogen wells. One of the most famous sources is the Bourakébougou village in Mali, where a well has emitted gas containing over 97% hydrogen for more than 30 years. Recently, a similar deposit was discovered in Moselle, France.
Orange Hydrogen is produced by injecting saltwater into iron-rich rocks, triggering chemical reactions that release hydrogen.

Hydrogen Colours: From Black to White

These varied colours reflect the evolution of hydrogen production methods toward cleaner, more environmentally friendly energy sources. Green hydrogen stands out as a promising solution for a sustainable energy future and a key enabler of decarbonised mobility. Its production depends on renewable energy availability, necessitating attention to technology development timelines.

Green Hydrogen and Refuelling Stations: Current Status

There are two ways to supply a hydrogen station:

On-site Electrolyser: The colour of hydrogen depends on the country’s energy mix where the station is located and is green if supplied by renewable electricity.
Hydrogen Delivered via Compressed Tube Trailers: The hydrogen colour depends on the production method, country of origin, and transportation mode.

There are also projects involving central hydrogen production stations supplying satellite stations with electrolytically produced hydrogen.

At Atawey, compact stations can integrate an electrolyser.

Conclusion

The various hydrogen colours embody the evolution of production methods toward more environmentally responsible energy. There is a growing necessity to develop low-carbon and decarbonised hydrogen production solutions.

As societies mobilise to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt cleaner energy sources, the demand for green hydrogen currently exceeds supply. This is partly why green hydrogen costs more than grey hydrogen.

Investment in time and funding is therefore crucial for developing production technologies and will be decisive in the coming years.

News & Hydrogen

28 June 2023

Hydrogen Production: From Fossil-Based to Renewable Sources

Hydrogen is a chemical element abundantly present in the universe, but it is rarely found in its pure form on Earth. Unlike fossil fuels such as coal or oil, hydrogen must be produced from other primary energy sources. This makes it an energy carrier—much like electricity—with significant potential, as it can serve as a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels across a wide range of sectors, including industry, power generation, and transport.

Using hydrogen as an energy source can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Moreover, hydrogen is easy to store and transport, making it a flexible and versatile energy solution. In short, hydrogen stands out as a promising energy carrier for the transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable economy.

The Various Methods of Hydrogen Production: From Fossil Resources to Water Electrolysis

Hydrogen production is emerging as a key industry in meeting society’s growing demand for clean and renewable energy.

An Introduction to Hydrogen: Properties and Potential

Hydrogen is a chemical element made up of one proton and one electron. The hydrogen molecule (H₂), also known as dihydrogen, consists of two hydrogen atoms. In common usage, the term “hydrogen” typically refers to dihydrogen (H₂).

What is hydrogen energy used for in France?

In France, hydrogen is primarily used in the chemical industry and oil refining. It also serves as a key feedstock for the production of ammonia (used in fertilizers) and methanol.

In the context of the energy transition, hydrogen energy holds the potential to be leveraged for many additional applications in the future.

As a clean fuel: when combined with a fuel cell, hydrogen undergoes a reaction that generates electricity. It acts as a clean energy carrier, making it possible to power an electric motor—this is the operating principle behind hydrogen-powered vehicles.
To store electricity, helping to optimise power generation capacity and address the intermittency of renewable energy sources.
In the industrial sector, to replace fossil fuel use and supply industries with low-carbon energy.

How Is Hydrogen Produced? The Production Process

There are several methods for producing hydrogen. Today, the most widely used process is steam methane reforming (SMR). This technique relies on fossil fuels such as natural gas or biogas, using steam to break the carbon-hydrogen bonds in methane. Through two successive chemical reactions, the atoms are separated and recombined into dihydrogen (H₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). The resulting gas mixture is then purified to obtain “grey” hydrogen with a purity of approximately 99.9%. While steam reforming offers a competitive cost advantage, it has a significant carbon footprint—generating more than 10 kg of CO₂ for every kilogram of grey hydrogen produced.

Coal gasification was also widely used in the 19th century to produce town gas and liquid fuels for military purposes. When coal is subjected to extremely high temperatures, it vaporises, and the carbon it contains reacts with steam to produce synthesis gas, or “syngas”. Hydrogen can then be extracted from the syngas after impurities and CO₂ are removed. This method, which also generates high levels of CO₂ emissions, is still used today in countries with a strong coal-based industrial heritage—such as China, the United States, and Germany—to produce what is known as “grey” hydrogen on an industrial scale.

However, these hydrogen production methods are increasingly being called into question due to their significant environmental impact. As hydrogen mobility continues to gain momentum, several alternative pathways are currently under development—most notably hydrogen production through electrolysis.

Hydrogen Produced by Electrolysis: A Promising Alternative to Fossil Fuels

How Is Green Hydrogen Produced?

Green hydrogen is considered one of the key components of the energy transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy sources. In this context, water electrolysis is a promising method for producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power. This technology triggers a reaction that splits water molecules into dihydrogen and dioxygen by applying an electric current. In practical terms, two molecules of water (H₂O) yield two molecules of hydrogen gas (H₂) and one molecule of oxygen (O₂).

2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂

Did You Know? Electrolysers Are Key to Producing Renewable Hydrogen

When the electrolyser is powered by renewable electricity, the hydrogen produced is considered “green,” as it generates no greenhouse gas emissions from production through to end use.

Water electrolysis is therefore a key technology for green hydrogen production, helping to reduce its carbon footprint and providing a sustainable transport solution for a cleaner future.

The Electrolyser: A Key Technology at the Heart of the Compact S Hydrogen Station’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production System by Atawey

Capable of integrating an electrolyser, Atawey’s Compact S hydrogen station can produce up to 2 kg of hydrogen per day—equivalent to approximately 200 km of driving range for a light-duty vehicle. By adopting this approach, the compact station becomes an all-in-one solution: it combines production, storage, compression, distribution, and the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) in a single integrated unit.

The station is connected to the mains water supply and uses alkaline electrolysis technology to split water molecules. Once the water molecule is separated, the low-carbon hydrogen is stored, while the oxygen is released into the atmosphere. When the station reaches its maximum storage capacity, hydrogen production is automatically halted.

Did You Know?

The Compact S station is the ideal solution for stakeholders located in island or remote areas!

The electrolysers integrated into the Compact S stations were designed by Atawey and are manufactured in France, in Saint-Étienne.

A Compact S Station Commissioned in Guadeloupe

Delivered to Guadeloupe at the end of 2022, the Compact S station will serve as a seed station for the company SARA.

Capable of producing 2 kg of hydrogen per day and dispensing up to 6 kg in a single day, this station will supply two 700-bar vehicles.

This station is the first of its kind in Guadeloupe and was installed in March in the Jarry area. It is powered by renewable energy, supplied through photovoltaic panels.

Challenges to Overcome for Accelerating the Energy Transition: Replacing Steam Methane Reforming

Steam methane reforming, currently the most widely used method for producing low-carbon hydrogen, is set to be gradually phased out as part of the ecological transition due to its high CO₂ emissions. Water electrolysis is regarded as the most advanced alternative technology, although hydrogen production costs remain high—approximately three times more than steam reforming—and are heavily dependent on electricity prices.

The Compact S stations developed by Atawey use an integrated electrolyser to produce hydrogen. For the other stations in the range—namely the Compact M and the Evolutive hydrogen stations—an electrolyser can be installed alongside the station to enable on-site hydrogen production.

More About Hydrogen Production