TotalEnergies and Air Liquide have announced the creation of a joint venture (JV) to develop a network of hydrogen refuelling stations, as the French oil company joins the list of majors doubling down on bets for hydrogen in road transport.

The JV plans to deploy over 100 hydrogen stations under the TotalEnergies brand, serving heavy-duty vehicles along major strategic road corridors throughout France, Benelux and Germany.

“As pioneers in hydrogen mobility, we are convinced of the necessity to start building now a heavy-duty network that will benefit our customers,” says Thierry Pflimlin, president of marketing and services at TotalEnergies. “This new partnership with Air Liquide will enable us to continue our development across the entire hydrogen value chain.”

The two firms have previously announced the development of a 20,000t/yr low-carbon hydrogen facility at TotalEnergies’ Grandpuits refinery. While the companies have indicated offtake will primarily be for use in sustainable aviation fuel, the hydrogen could also be used for mobility in France.

Doubling down

Oil majors anticipate hydrogen could play a role in decarbonising mobility. BP estimates heavy-duty transport via road and rail to require between 50–70mn t/yr of hydrogen by 2050, and the British major has committed to developing 25 hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK by 2030. Meanwhile, ExxonMobil subsidiary Imperial Oil has taken FID on a diesel facility using blue hydrogen as feedstock.

Over 100 hydrogen stations planned

While Shell has closed its three refuelling stations in the UK, it has not ruled out mobility from its portfolio, the company tells Hydrogen Economist. It currently operates 58 retail sites across Germany, the Netherlands and the US, including seven light-duty refuelling stations in California.

“Shell is also part of several initiatives aimed at encouraging the adoption of hydrogen in transport, [including] heavy-duty refuelling stations for hydrogen trucks in the USA and in northwest Europe,” the company says. It is currently operating three heavy-duty hydrogen refuelling stations in the state in partnership with automotive firms Toyota and Kenworth Truck Company, supplying freight from the port of Los Angeles to southern California.

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Author: Polly Martin