← All news

Quite an eyeful: Parisian landmark powered by renewable hydrogen

Wednesday, 09 June 2021

The iconic French monument, for the first time, has been illuminated with electricity produced from certified renewable hydrogen. 

On a laser show at the Paris de l’hydrogène event organised by Energy Observer, hydrogen was used to light up the Eiffel Tower. The main objective of the event was to demonstrate the potential of this green gas in France’s green recovery and energy transition. It has been more than 130 years that an alternative energy source has been implemented for the illumination of the popular monument.

Over the duration of the event, 400 kg of renewable hydrogen were used to run the exhibition area as well as to illuminate the Eiffel Tower. The hydrogen was supplied by Air Liquide, with an electro-hydrogen generator developed by start-up EODev (Energy Observer Developments) deployed for the event. According to EODev, the EODev’s GEH2® generator offers emission-free operation and does not emit any fine particles.

Matthieu Giard, a member of the Executive Committee, supervising Hydrogen activities at Air Liquide said “Supporting Energy Observer by lighting up the Eiffel Tower with renewable hydrogen is above all a symbol, but also an illustration that the solution exists, and that we must collectively pursue initiatives to develop a hydrogen society, with large-scale projects in France and throughout the world.” Air Liquide has supported Energy Observer since its establishment and made a commitment to use hydrogen in various applications, including industrial processes and clean mobility.

Currently the industrial hydrogen market in France is estimated at approximately 1 Megaton (Mt), or over 33 GWh. According to the France’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP 2021 - 2030), the French government targets to increase hydrogen consumption in industrial applications and mobility. 

For industrial applications, rates of incorporation of decarbonised hydrogen into industrial hydrogen are set at 10% by 2023 and up to 40% by 2028. The government’s hydrogen plan has focused on the acceleration of the industrial development of hydrogen-based technologies by supporting research and the transfer of technologies resulting from research.

Sources:

Power Engineering InternationalEuropean Commission