Qair lands $64M for French renewable hydrogen ecosystem

In France, Qair announced the successful financing of its renewable hydrogen ecosystem in Occitanie, France. This landmark €55 million financing, secured in partnership with Crédit Agricole and Bpifrance, will support the pending construction of the Hyd’Occ H2 production facility in Port-La Nouvelle, along with five refuelling stations strategically located along major regional transport routes. Commissioning of the first production unit is expected by the end of the year.

This ecosystem represents a fully integrated solution for the production, transport, and distribution of renewable hydrogen, contributing to the decarbonization of road transport and the wider energy transition. The first 20 MW phase of the plant will produce 2,700 tons of renewable hydrogen annually – avoiding the emission of 27,000 tons of CO₂ per year. A second phase will double capacity to 40 MW, enabling annual production of 5,400 tons.

Hyd’Occ will power a regional hydrogen mobility network, including the Narbonne and Béziers stations, both under construction and part of the “Corridor H2” initiative supported by the Occitanie Region, the European Investment Bank, and the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility. This zero-emission corridor will connect the Iberian Peninsula with Northern Europe, advancing Europe’s ambition for sustainable heavy mobility.

Qair’s renewable hydrogen production facility is also backed by offtake agreements with major players such as Plug Power and local players such as Hydromer, securing more than 1,500 tons of hydrogen annually. First deliveries of renewable hydrogen are scheduled by the end of this year.