Hydrogen: a first conclusive test at a construction site

25 September 2020 - Sustainability - France

VINCI Construction Maritime et Fluvial is blazing new trails in France’s public works: it is testing a 30 kVA hydrogen-powered electric generator at its “Ouistreham” sea dock in Le Havre (Normandy).

The machine generates nothing but water vapor – no noise, no smell, no CO₂ – and can comfortably absorb short, sharp spikes in demand for energy. The company has replaced several diesel generators with a single hydrogen fuel cell as a result. The battery’s life is significantly shorter, for now, but new solutions are rising to the surface. At a time when the Group is setting a course towards a more virtuous and lower-carbon future for construction, this initiative illustrates our ambition in action on our projects.