France Backs Hydrogen for Cleaner Industry
The European Commission has approved a French program to support the production of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen in line with the European hydrogen strategy and the REPowerEU plan to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
The program provides for the construction of 1 GW of electrolysis capacity through three project calls. The first will cover 200 MW with a budget of around €797 million. The hydrogen produced will be used exclusively for direct industrial applications — in sectors where direct electrification is not economically justified. Support will be provided through 15-year contracts, and beneficiaries must meet EU criteria for renewable and low-carbon fuels.
According to the Commission, the measure is necessary because renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production remains more expensive, while France has included safeguards for fair competition through a transparent and non-discriminatory procedure. The program is expected to help deliver 4.5 GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 and 8 GW by 2035, with the potential to avoid up to 1.1 million tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_656
Volvo, Daimler Truck, and Toyota Join Forces in Hydrogen Technologies
Toyota Motor Corporation plans to join Volvo Group and Daimler Truck as an equal shareholder in cellcentric, the joint venture created by Volvo Group and Daimler Truck to develop, manufacture, and commercialize fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and other applications with similar requirements. The two companies have already been working together in this field, and Toyota’s entry is intended to accelerate the development, production, and market deployment of fuel cell systems while also helping reduce costs.
The companies have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding and plan to reach a legally binding agreement. Once the transaction is completed, Toyota will work together with cellcentric on the development and production of individual fuel cell components, as well as related devices and control systems. According to Volvo, the partners also intend to actively support the development of hydrogen supply and the necessary infrastructure in the early stages.
Green Hydrogen at a Record-Low Price for an Indian Refinery (€2.58 per Kilogram)
NeuEN Green Energy, the joint venture of BPCL and Sembcorp, will supply 10,000 tons of green hydrogen per year to the Numaligarh refinery in the Indian state of Assam. The agreement was signed at a record-low price for India of 279 rupees (€2.58) per kilogram, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2028.
NeuEN Green Energy is an equal-share joint venture between Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Sembcorp Green Hydrogen India, a subsidiary of Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries. Under the agreement, NeuEN will build a production facility directly at the refinery, and deliveries will be made under a long-term offtake arrangement. At a volume of 10 million kilograms per year, the estimated value of the supplies is around 2.79 billion rupees (€25.65 million) before taxes.
The tender was highly competitive, with nine bidders and very close final offers, showing strong pressure to bring prices down. The deal comes after the bidding process was extended in 2025 due to uncertainty surrounding clean energy policy in Assam. The final outcome is significant: green hydrogen in India is moving beyond the demonstration stage and entering real long-term industrial supply, which could also influence future refinery tenders across the country.
