Hydrogen is the most widespread element on the earth. It is present in the water that covers 70% of the globe, in the hydrocarbons which, as their name suggests, result from the combination of carbon and hydrogen atoms, as well as in all living organisms of animal or vegetable origin.


The small dihydrogen molecule (H2) is very highly energetic: 1 kg of H2 releases three times as much energy as 1 kg of gasoline.

Although it is extremely abundant on earth, hydrogen is non-existant in the pure state; it must therefore be produced before it can be used. Hydrogen is then an energy vector rather than a primary energy source.

For decades, hydrogen has been produced industrially using chemical processes which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; in a context of global warming, this technique does not offer a solution for providing CO2-free energy. The technologies developed based on water electrolysis, on the other hand, enable clean production of hydrogen providing that they are powered by a CO2-free energy source.

The hydrogen technology of tomorrow, supported by international research programs, will enable hydrogen to be produced on a large scale by electrolysis, and to be used in fuel cells, ensuring clean and economical generation of heat and electricity.

Moreover, unlike electricity, hydrogen can be stored to generate electricity anywhere, any time, without necessarily being connected to a power grid. Thus, tomorrow, hydrogen will facilitate the procurement of and access to energy.

AREVA, through its French subsidiary HELION, has been involved in hydrogen energy systems since 2001. Its activity is based on the development and marketing of solutions for the production of hydrogen by electrolysis, and the production of electrical and thermal energy using fuel cells.



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