They have set out on a new project which involves a very promising technology: hydrogen. This project has as its objective the “decarbonisation of maritime transport”. They will manufacture a hydrogen-powered vessel to serve the islands of the Gulf of Morbihan. 

The 24-metre-long vessel is expected to be commissioned in 2024 and will be able to carry between 150 and 200 passengers per crossing. With a power of 400 to 600 kW, Hylias (for Hydrogen for Land, Integrated renewables And Sea) brings together many partners, including the Brittany Region, Alca Torda, Morbihan Energies and Europe Technologie CIAM ®. This project is part of the Region’s roadmap for the deployment of renewable hydrogen, the implementation of which has been entrusted to BDI (Bretagne Development Innovation). 

Emmanuel Bensadoun, head of the expertise and studies department of France Hydrogène, whose regional delegation is led by BDI, recalled the main structuring projects in Brittany for the sector, such as the hydrogen recharging and production station on the Michelin site. “Brittany is seeing the emergence of a hydrogen distribution network for mobility, he said. The region is dynamic and can rely, among other things, on the potential of floating wind power to produce decarbonised energy on a large scale.” The wind-powered ship propulsion sector is not to be outdone in terms of projects carried out.  

Hydrogen alone can power coastal transport vessels, such as the Hylias. For cargo ships, the energy requirement is much greater. “If we ask hydrogen alone to replace the hydrocarbon energy system, we won’t succeed, said Olivier Ticos, managing director of Alca Torda. For long-distance transport, hydrogen can be used as a complement to vehicle propulsion.” And Erwan Jacquin agreed: “It is indeed an energy mix that we need. We need to work portion by portion. If we can decarbonise with wind or with hydrogen, or by combining the two, we must do so.” 

For us, it is always a pleasure to stand out how countries and regions succeed with the cooperation of regional actors like Enterprise. We are confident that France and the Bretagne region will be at the forefront of renewable technologies in the near future as their actions have shown us.    

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