Qair Secures €55 Million Financing With Crédit Agricole And Bpifrance To Build The Hyd’Occ Renewable Hydrogen Ecosystem In Occitanie, France

Qair, an independent renewable energy company, has announced the successful financing of its renewable hydrogen ecosystem in Occitanie, France. The landmark €55 million financing package, secured in partnership with Crédit Agricole and Bpifrance, will fund the construction of the Hyd’Occ hydrogen production facility in Port-La Nouvelle, as well as five hydrogen refuelling stations located along major regional transport routes. The first production unit is expected to be commissioned by the end of this year.

The project represents a fully integrated ecosystem covering the production, transportation, and distribution of renewable hydrogen. It is designed to support the decarbonization of road transport and contribute to the broader energy transition in France. In its first phase, the 20 MW Hyd’Occ plant will produce around 2,700 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year, which will prevent approximately 27,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. A planned second phase will double the plant’s capacity to 40 MW, enabling an annual output of 5,400 tonnes of renewable hydrogen.

Hyd’Occ will supply hydrogen to a regional network of refuelling stations, including those in Narbonne and Béziers, both of which are currently under construction. These stations are part of the “Corridor H2” initiative, supported by the Occitanie Region, the European Investment Bank, and the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. The initiative aims to create a zero-emission corridor connecting the Iberian Peninsula with Northern Europe, promoting sustainable heavy-duty transport across the continent.

The renewable hydrogen produced at Hyd’Occ is already supported by long-term offtake agreements with major partners such as Plug Power and local company Hydromer. These agreements secure the purchase of more than 1,500 tonnes of hydrogen per year, with the first deliveries expected before the end of the year.

Hyd’Occ represents a cornerstone in Qair’s broader hydrogen vision. As the largest renewable hydrogen production facility in France, it marks a major milestone for the company in transforming hydrogen into a practical energy solution for local communities. However, this project is just one part of Qair’s global strategy to establish itself as a leading independent producer of green hydrogen through large-scale developments worldwide.

In Iceland, Qair is progressing with the Katanes project, a large-scale green ammonia initiative located in Grundartangi. The project will be developed in three phases, with a total capacity of 840 MW and an electrolyser capacity of 780 MW. Alongside this, Qair is expanding Iceland’s hydrogen distribution infrastructure through the Blær project.

The company has already acquired two hydrogen refuelling stations in Reykjavik, including the world’s first commercial hydrogen station built in 2003, and plans to establish four additional sites across the country. Together, the Katanes and Blær projects will make Iceland a key hub for renewable hydrogen production and a pioneer in hydrogen-based mobility.

In Brazil, Qair is developing large-scale hydrogen and ammonia projects at the Pecém Industrial Port. These projects will serve both local industries and international markets, particularly Europe, by exporting renewable ammonia. Leveraging Brazil’s vast renewable energy resources and Qair’s nearby solar and wind power portfolio, these initiatives will strengthen the company’s position in the global green hydrogen value chain.

In France, Qair is also advancing the Methavert project at the Haropa Port in Le Havre. This e-methanol production facility will have a target capacity of 200,000 tonnes per year and will utilize renewable hydrogen combined with locally sourced CO₂. The project aims to decarbonize industries that are difficult to electrify, such as shipping and chemicals, while taking advantage of existing logistics and storage infrastructure in the port area.

To ensure the effective distribution of its renewable hydrogen and related green molecules, Qair has established strategic partnerships with key players across the energy value chain. By combining large-scale production with efficient distribution networks, Qair is demonstrating its capability to design, finance, and deliver complete renewable hydrogen ecosystems—paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable global energy future.