Air Liquide Launches The Horizon Hydrogen Energy (H2E) Program
On 8 October 2008, under Community rules on State aid, the European Commission
authorized the 67.6 million funding granted at the end of 2007 by OSEO (French agency for innovation support) for the Horizon Hydrogen Energy (H2E) innovation program,
coordinated by the Air Liquide Group, in the field of hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells.
Today, the planet is faced with a dual challenge: environmental and energy. Within this
context, access to sustainable mobility is a strategic issue to reduce greenhouse gases,pollution in cities and to lower the dependency on oil-based fuels. Hydrogen, used as an energy carrier, is one of the solutions to meet these challenges in the short-term.
The H2E program, which represents an overall investment in research and technology of
almost 200 million over 7 years, aims at building sustainable and competitive hydrogenenergy solutions. The research and development will cover the full hydrogen energy value chain. In particular, it will investigate the development of innovative technologies for hydrogen production using renewable energy, hydrogen storage and industrialization of fuel cells. H2E will also contribute to the setting up of a suitable regulatory framework, and will include a program of demonstrations and educational measures to familiarize the wider public with this new, clean energy vector.
This ambitious program brings together around Air Liquide twenty partners in the field of hydrogen energy: industrial groups, small and medium-sized companies and French public research laboratories. This is a unique opportunity to place France and Europe at the leading edge of this key sector for sustainable mobility.
François Darchis, member of the Air Liquide Executive Committee, in charge of Advanced
Technologies, declared: "For more than 40 years, Air Liquide has developed unique
know-how along the whole hydrogen chain. The H2E program will enable the Group
to confirm its position as a major player in the development of hydrogen-energy, and
to be ready for the emergence of hydrogen in transport by 2015. Air Liquide believes
that it is its responsibility as the world leader to open new markets and introduce
scientific and technological innovation into society."
For more information about hydrogen, Air Liquide has opened a special website:
www.planete-hydrogene.com
With more than 40,000 employees in 75 countries, Air Liquide is the world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies and produces air gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases...) and many other gases including hydrogen. The Group contributes to the manufacturing of many everyday products: bubbles in sparkling beverages, protective atmosphere for packed foods, oxygen for hospitals and homecare patients, ultra-pure gases for the semiconductor industry, hydrogen to desulfurize fuels...
Air Liquide is committed to sustainable development and helps to protect life. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on trust and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2007 totaled 11,801 million euros, with sales outside France accounting for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073).
Contacts :
Corporate Communication
Corinne Estrade-Bordry
+ 33 (0)1 40 62 51 31
Investor Relations
Virginia Jeanson
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 37
Aude Rodriguez
+33 (0)1 40 62 57 18
Air Liquide Advanced Technologies
Dominique Lecocq
+ 33 (0)4 76 43 64 97
