Indeed. My aim is to make Air Liquide the champion of climate solutions. This is an urgent priority for the planet, and for us all. At Air Liquide, we are already able to provide tangible solutions to the major challenges of decarbonizing industrial activities. Moreover, our solutions apply to both our own activities and those of our customers. Our expertise and our thorough understanding of their needs mean we can help our customers meet their climate commitments.
For example, we are developing large-scale hydrogen technologies for industry and mobility, and I am proud to say that we have been pioneers in this field. We are also established in CO2 capture, biomethane and oxycombustion, all areas that are in growing demand. We therefore offer a wide range of technologies based on our key molecules. This is something our customers appreciate, as shown by our recent strategic partnerships with cement manufacturer EQIOM, refiner Eni and aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
The subject is no longer a matter of debate. Hydrogen has a major role to play in the decarbonization of industry and heavy transport. Its potential is huge, but we have many collective challenges to tackle before it can fully contribute to the energy transition. Industrial players will clearly contribute, but it is necessary to build an entire ecosystem around this technology. To do so, political strategies need to promote the development of new decarbonized usages, common regulation and, of course, support from investors and consumer adherence.
This means developing new usages in sectors such as steel and road transportation. We have established several partnerships to collectively support the opening of these new markets. Additionally, it means increasing our low-carbon and renewable hydrogen production capacities. To do so, we intend to invest a minimum of €8 billion in the low-carbon hydrogen value chain by 2035. One example is the Group’s largest renewable hydrogen production unit in Normandy, France, which is under construction and will be commissioned in 2025. We have also signed long-term contracts with industrial players in Europe to supply them with low-carbon hydrogen. In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act (4) will also create several opportunities. Driven by this unprecedented global momentum, we aim to triple sales, from €2 billion to €6 billion by 2035.
“It is necessary to build an entire ecosystem around this technology. To do so, political strategies need to promote the development of new decarbonized usages, common regulation and, of course, support from investors.”
