TotalEnergies is taking a significant step toward its 2030 goal of decarbonizing hydrogen use in its European refineries by partnering with Air Liquide to produce renewable hydrogen at its La Mède biorefinery in southeast France. This project complements the ongoing Masshylia green hydrogen initiative led by TotalEnergies in collaboration with ENGIE. Together, these projects will reduce annual CO₂ emissions at La Mède by 130,000 tons, advancing regional and corporate decarbonization goals.
A Renewable Hydrogen Hub at La Mède
Air Liquide will construct and operate a renewable hydrogen production unit at La Mède with an annual capacity of 25,000 tons. The facility will utilize coproducts from TotalEnergies’ biorefinery to produce hydrogen, which will then fuel the production of biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The project represents a €150 million investment shared between TotalEnergies and Air Liquide and is expected to commence operations in 2028.
Vincent Stoquart, President, Refining & Chemicals at TotalEnergies, highlighted the project’s significance:
“This new renewable hydrogen production project with Air Liquide accelerates the decarbonization of our La Mède platform. Nearly a decade after its conversion, La Mède is evolving into a low-carbon hydrogen production hub, contributing to the sustainability goals of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.”
The Masshylia Green Hydrogen Project
In parallel, TotalEnergies and ENGIE are advancing the Masshylia green hydrogen project, which will utilize water electrolysis to produce 10,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. This hydrogen will support decarbonization efforts at both La Mède and the Fos-Berre industrial-port zone.
The first phase of the project, involving a 20 MW electrolyzer, is expected to start by 2029, contingent on the approval of subsidies and public authorizations from European and French authorities.
TotalEnergies’ Commitment to Decarbonizing European Refineries
As part of its broader sustainability strategy, TotalEnergies is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of its energy production and refining processes. By scaling the use of low-carbon hydrogen, the company aims to cut CO₂ emissions from its European refineries by approximately three million tons annually by 2030.
These initiatives underline TotalEnergies’ leadership in the global energy transition and its commitment to supporting regional decarbonization and sustainable fuel production.
