Air Liquide plans to invest more than Eur80 million ($87 million) to build a major renewable hydrogen facility at TotalEnergies’ La Mede biorefinery in southern France, marking a significant push toward greener fuel production in one of Europe’s key industrial hubs.

Air Liquide will build, own and operate a 25,000 mt/year green hydrogen unit, scheduled to begin operations in 2028, that produces hydrogen from recycled biogenic byproducts rather than fossil fuels, the Paris-based industrial gas giant said Nov. 22.

The facility will support TotalEnergies’ drive to slash emissions at its Mediterranean coast site by 130,000 mt of CO2 annually.

This latest investment strengthens Air Liquide’s position in the strategic Fos-sur-Mer industrial basin, where it already operates multiple production facilities and Europe’s first high-pressure hydrogen fueling station for heavy-duty trucks. The project follows similar partnerships between the two French energy companies, including renewable hydrogen supply agreements for TotalEnergies’ Grandpuits and Gonfreville refineries.