How Air Liquide is Expanding Green Hydrogen in Europe
Air Liquide has released its 2025 First Half report, explaining the targets its hit and plans for the future.
The company has started up six decarbonisation power purchase agreements alongside more than a million dollar investment into two electrolysers in the Netherlands.
François Jackow, Chief Executive Officer of the Air Liquide Group, says: “Quarter after quarter, Air Liquide stays the course and continues to achieve a very solid financial performance.
“We recorded an increase in sales, once again demonstrating the strength of our business model, a source of growth and resilience.
“Our operating margin continues to improve, perfectly in line with our ambition for a +200 basis point increase over two years.
“In addition, our investment backlog achieved a new record high.
“In a market environment that remains uncertain, the Group relies more than ever on diversified growth engines, particularly in the electronics and energy transition sectors.”
Why is green hydrogen important for sustainability?
Hydrogen could play a crucial role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, as when it is used as a fuel its sole byproduct is water.
This makes it suitable for powering various systems, including heavy-duty vehicles and electricity generation, without releasing CO₂.
Currently, most hydrogen is produced as grey hydrogen, which involves extracting it from natural gas via steam methane reforming (SMR), a process that emits CO₂.
By comparison, green hydrogen is made through electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity, resulting in zero carbon emissions.
What is Air Liquide's newest green hydrogen project?
The company aims to expand renewable and low carbon hydrogen in Europe through two large scale projects.
Air Liquide has partnered with TotalEnergies, investing US$1.15bn into two electrolysers in the Netherlands.
The ELYgator project received support from the Dutch Government, focusing on a 200 MW Air Liquide electrolyser, alongside a 50/50 joint venture with TotalEnergies to build a 250 MW electrolyser.
Emilie Mouren-Renouard, Group Executive Committee member at Air Liquide, says: “This investment decision is an important milestone and demonstrates our commitment to renewable hydrogen development.
“We firmly believe that robust, large-scale initiatives like ELYgator will deliver a real impact for the European industry and heavy-duty mobility sectors.
“We welcome the support from the Dutch Government, which has been instrumental in our decision to move forward with this significant decarbonisation project.
“ELYgator illustrates our drive to develop concrete technologies and solutions that directly contribute to Europe’s ambitions towards climate neutrality by 2050.”
What else has Air Liquide been doing to improve sustainability?
Air Liquide also strengthened its presence in Japan, making an investment into an Air Separation Unit.
The company reports that the investment meets the needs for the Mitsubishi Materials and the demand for the energy transition and semi conductors.
In the US the company has invested US$200m in Louisiana, expanding its pipeline network and modernising one of its plants.
Also in the first half of 2025 Air Liquide reports that it has made successful completion on a US$579m green bond issue to finance/refinance flagship energy transition projects.
What Technology has Air Liquide invested in?
Air Liquide has been making changes around the world by investing into large projects.
In Germany it invested US$280m into building industrial gas production units.
This has been its largest investment project in electronics in Europe.
Guillaume Cottet, Vice President, Electronic World Business Line at Air Liquide, says: “We're making our largest investment in Europe to date of more than US$280m, to supply carrier gases through a new state-of-the-art facility in Dresden, at the heart of the German “Silicon Saxony”, the major European hub for the semiconductor industry.
“This landmark investment reinforces our leadership in electronics, while also contributing to advancing a reliable semiconductor supply chain in Europe, which is absolutely essential for the continent.”
The company has also invested US$50m into the US, supporting the growth of the semiconductor industry.
Air Liquide plans to build an additional ultra-pure gas production plant, to support one of the largest manufacturers in the world for advanced chip design.
In South Korea the company has introduced a new molybdenum production plant, supplying critical newly advanced material for the next-generation semiconductors.
In Singapore following a long-term supply contract worth around US$81m with VSMC, the company will build a production unit to supply high purity gases in support of the semiconductor industry.