Gen-Hy, a hydrogen startup in Allenjoie, Doubs, secures €100 million [USD $107 million] in state support as part of France’s national hydrogen strategy.
• Backed by the European Commission under the IPCEI Hydrogen program, the plant aims to produce 350 AEM electrolysers annually and generate 250 jobs.
France's Industry Minister Marc Ferracci announced a state aid package of €100 million [USD $107 million] for the Doubs-based startup Gen-Hy. The announcement is a centerpiece of the government's hydrogen rollout and part of a broader strategy to localize electrolyser manufacturing.
Gen-Hy, headquartered in Allenjoie near Montbéliard, will use the funding to scale up the domestic production of AEM (anion exchange membrane) electrolysers and membranes. The company is now on track to establish the first French factory dedicated to these components essential for producing green hydrogen.
"This project was validated by the European Commission in May 2024 as part of the fourth wave of the IPCEI Hydrogen (Important Project of Common European Interest)," Gen-Hy confirmed in a press statement.
Construction of the manufacturing site is already underway, and operations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026. The plant will initially produce 350 electrolysers annually, with units ranging from 100 kW to 2 MW in size. Employment at the site is projected to reach 150 jobs within four years, expanding to 250 positions as the project matures.
Minister Ferracci is expected to tour the Allenjoie facility this Thursday, with additional stops planned in the Territoire de Belfort, underscoring the government’s regional development agenda tied to industrial decarbonization.
포스코그룹이 장인화 회장 취임 후 사업 재편에 속도를 내는 가운데 수소사업 전략에도 변화를 준다.
16일 업계에 따르면 포스코그룹은 일부 수소사업 투자 계획을 조정했다. 수소 생산에 투자하기보다는 조달하는 데 집중하는 방향으로 전환한 것이다.
최근 미국 루이지애나주 블루암모니아 사업 계획을 철회한 것 역시 이같은 전략의 일환으로 분석된다. 원래 포스코그룹은 시에프인더스트리즈와 협약을 맺고 미국에 블루암모니아 생산설비를 구축하는 프로젝트를 추진했으나 최종 계약엔 서명하지 않았다.
서울 강남 포스코센터 전경 (사진=포스코홀딩스)
업계 관계자는 "처음에는 수소 사업에 굉장히 많은 투자를 하려 했지만, 시장에서 요구하는 가격이 현재로서는 전혀 맞지 않는 상황"이라며 "계속 투자를 하기에는 문제가 있어, 향후 시장이 안정화되면 '패스트 팔로워(빠른 추격자)'로 가는 전략으로 바꿔 한발 물러선 상황"이라고 설명했다.
'생산보다 조달’ 전략으로 방향을 튼 배경에는 수익성 우려가 자리하는 셈이다. 국제 블루암모니아 시세가 1㎏당 2~3달러인 반면, 포스코가 수소환원제철(HyREX) 상용화를 위해 설정한 목표 가격은 1~2달러 이하다. 현재 비용 구조로는 직접 설비 투자보다 장기 구매 계약이 더 경제적이라는 분석이다.
포스코는 2027년 수소환원제철 HyREX 실증설비를 도입해 오는 2030년까지 상용화 기술개발을 완료한다는 계획이다. 기술개발 단계에서 필요한 수소는 자체적으로 조달할 방침이며, 향후 상용화 단계에 필요한 대규모 수소 공급 및 인프라 구축은 정부의 협력 및 지원이 필요한 것으로 알려졌다.
현재 포스코그룹은 주력 사업 철강과 이차전지 소재가 모두 부침을 겪는 상황에서 비핵심 자산을 솎아내고 일부 사업은 축소하거나 계획을 연기하는 등 사업 전략을 조정하고 있다. 무리한 투자 확대가 아닌 내실을 다지며 기회를 노리는 방법을 택한 것으로 보인다.
포스코그룹 관계자는 "사업을 검토하는 과정에서 여건들이 변화가 있어서 시에프인더스트리즈와 협력을 종료한 것은 맞다"며 "MOU 체결 후 사업성을 검토한 후 협력을 중단하는 사례들 중의 하나"라고 설명했다.
Smoltek’s disruptive PTE technology is attracting strong interest among major companies in the hydrogen industry
Smoltek Nanotech Holding AB (publ) (“Smoltek” or the “Company”) has published an interview with Ellinor Ehrnberg, President of its subsidiary Smoltek Hydrogen AB on the company’s IR blog. The interview highlights how several global industrial companies within PEM electrolyzers and fuel cells are now evaluating the company’s PTE technology, driven by the realization that early adoption provides crucial competitive advantages.
Ellinor Ehrnberg,President of Smoltek Hydrogen, says:
The interest in our PTE technology has been great, but what is truly remarkable is the speed of the evaluation processes that we are now seeing from several global players.
“They realize that this is not just an improvement, but a technology that can redefine the playing field for both PEM electrolyzers and fuel cells,”
Smoltek Hydrogen has developed a patent-protected nanotechnology that enables the fabrication of high-performance porous transport electrodes (PTEs), for electrochemical cells:
For PEM electrolyzers, this enables a thirty-fold increase in catalytic surface area, potentially reducing iridium usage by up to 95 percent – an innovation that no other player in the market can match. This paves the way for producing fossil-free hydrogen at competitive prices.
For fuel cells, Smoltek’s technology can reduce internal contact resistance (ICR) and counteract electrochemical corrosion – two key factors for increased performance and improved lifespan.
Several leading global industrial companies are now evaluating Smoltek Hydrogen’s PTE. According to Ellinor Ehrnberg, their normally time-consuming evaluation and development processes are being accelerated by the realization that the first player to integrate the technology will gain significant and likely unassailable competitive advantages. Smoltek Hydrogen is already selling PTE prototypes for evaluation purposes and aims to be able to sell full-scale electrodes in 2026.
– Our disruptive technology presents the industry with a choice similar to that faced by Facit or Nokia; adapt or risk being overtaken. At the same time, we have a well-thought-out, low-risk model for scaling up manufacturing together with technical partners. We invest in line with customer needs and use existing production technology, which minimizes our financial risk and ensures that we can deliver when the market is ready, says Ellinor Ehrnberg.
First Pilot Plant Deployment of Amogy’s Low Ruthenium Content Catalyst Marks Milestone in Scaling Ammonia Cracking for Clean Hydrogen Production
NEW YORK -- Amogy, a provider of mature, scalable, and efficient ammonia-to-power solutions, today announced the first pilot plant deployment of its advanced ammonia cracking catalyst withJGC Holdings Corporation(JGC), a global engineering company headquartered in Japan. This agreement is a key component of a pilot project designed to advance large-scale ammonia cracking technology for low-carbon hydrogen production. The milestone underscores ammonia’s expanding role as a crucial enabler of the global hydrogen economy.
JGC selected Amogy’s low ruthenium content catalyst for use in its ammonia cracking demonstration project as part of its participation in a broader initiative by theNew Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization(NEDO) to establish a competitive hydrogen supply chain. In addition to supplying the catalyst, Amogy will provide support to ensure optimal performance and reliability in large-scale operations.
The project aims to develop and optimize a large-scale hydrogen production system utilizing ammonia cracking technology. While small-scale ammonia cracking technologies have been commercialized, expanding energy efficient processes remains a challenge. This initiative seeks to bridge that gap by advancing component technologies and system optimization. Working alongside partners, JGC will lead the design and development of the large-scale ammonia cracking system.
“This first pilot plant deployment of our ammonia cracking catalyst represents a major achievement for Amogy and a breakthrough for the hydrogen industry,” said Seonghoon Woo, CEO and co-founder of Amogy. “We are proud to contribute to this pioneering project and play a crucial role in the advancement of large-scale hydrogen production using ammonia as a carrier. Our catalyst technology will help improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of ammonia cracking, a key component in building a competitive hydrogen supply chain.”
“Large scale ammonia cracking technology is one of the last elements to be developed and commercialized to realize clean hydrogen-ammonia supply chain globally at industrial scale,” said Masahiro Aika, Executive Vice President and Technology Commercialization Officer of JGC Holdings. “We are excited to collaborate with Amogy to improve JGC’s ammonia cracking process by utilizing Amogy’s low ruthenium content catalysts.”
Amogy’s portfolio of ammonia cracking catalysts, including both precious-metal-based and base-metal-based formulations, provides highly efficient ammonia conversion into hydrogen. These catalysts deliver significantly higher activity compared to other commercial offerings, enabling increased hydrogen production rates at much lower operating temperatures. Available through licensing or direct sales, Amogy’s catalysts provide a scalable and reliable solution to meet the diverse needs of the clean energy sector.
By 2030, the JGC project aims to enable the large-scale deployment of hydrogen production from ammonia, aligning withJapan’s national strategy to accelerate the adoption of hydrogenas a key energy source. This initiative underscores the growing global commitment to leveraging ammonia as a practical and efficient hydrogen carrier, paving the way for a more sustainable energy future.
About Amogy
Amogy provides carbon-free energy solutions to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like maritime shipping, power generation, and heavy industry. Proven in real-world applications, its patented ammonia cracking technology offers a mature, scalable, and highly efficient method for splitting ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. The resulting hydrogen is directed into an integrated fuel cell or hydrogen engine, generating high-performance power with zero carbon emissions.
Amogy is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, with additional locations including Texas, South Korea, Norway, and Singapore. Amogy is backed by investors including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, SK Innovation, Aramco Ventures, Mitsubishi Corporation, Samsung Heavy Industries, BHP Ventures, and AP Ventures. For more information, follow Amogy onLinkedIn,X,Instagram,Threads,Facebook, andYouTube, or visitwww.amogy.co.
About JGC
JGC group operates Engineering, Procurement and Construction businesses for plants and facilities in a variety of regions throughout the world. JGC Group targets the realization of an "environmentally conscious society" and the improvement of "energy access" as important issues (materiality) to be addressed as a JGC group. We are working on a wide range of initiatives to expand the use of hydrogen which does not emit CO2 during combustion, and ammonia, which is expected to be the most promising hydrogen energy carrier in the hydrogen transportation from the viewpoint of economic efficiency and safety.
