John Cockerill produces first French-made electrolyzer stack for Europe’s green hydrogen market
John Cockerill Hydrogen has unveiled its first electrolyzer stack manufactured and assembled in France, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion of green hydrogen production capabilities across Europe.
The achievement comes one year after John Cockerill acquired key strategic assets from McPhy, including its Belfort production facility, technologies, intellectual property and specialist workforce. The company said the milestone demonstrates its commitment to preserving European hydrogen expertise while accelerating the industrial development of next-generation electrolyzer technologies.
Teams in Belfort, France, alongside colleagues from Wildau in Germany and Seraing in Belgium, have completed the production of the first 5 MW electrolyzer stack assembled in France using a newly developed production line. The project represents a significant step in rebuilding and strengthening Europe’s domestic manufacturing capacity for hydrogen equipment.
John Cockerill Hydrogen said the Belfort site will continue focusing on technology development and the assembly of future generations of electrolyzers, while its other European facilities support large-scale commercial deployment.
At the company’s Aspach and Seraing sites, production is also expanding to meet growing demand for green hydrogen equipment. Following the delivery of 25 MW of electrolyzers for a hydrogen production facility in Belgium, the Aspach plant is preparing to begin manufacturing eight new electrolyzers with a combined capacity of 40 MW for a green hydrogen project in the Netherlands.
The company said the collaboration between its Belfort, Aspach and Seraing facilities highlights the importance of an integrated European manufacturing network. While Belfort drives innovation and technology development, Aspach and Seraing provide production and assembly capabilities for projects currently being deployed across the continent.
John Cockerill Hydrogen believes this industrial approach will help accelerate the scaling of the European hydrogen sector and support decarbonisation efforts in industries including chemicals, refining and fertiliser production.
Nicolas de Coignac, CEO of John Cockerill Hydrogen, said the company’s acquisition of McPhy’s assets was driven by a commitment to protect industrial expertise, accelerate manufacturing and produce hydrogen technologies in Europe.
“When we acquired McPhy’s key assets a year ago, we made a commitment: to preserve this know-how, accelerate its industrialisation, and manufacture in Europe,” he said. “With this first electrolyzer produced in Belfort, we are turning our commitments into achievements.”
He added that further growth of the hydrogen sector would depend on creating a European market supported by effective policies that encourage demand and strengthen the competitiveness of European technologies.
The completion of the first French-made electrolyzer stack and the launch of new production activities in Aspach and Seraing underline John Cockerill Hydrogen’s growing role in the European green hydrogen industry.
As countries across Europe accelerate efforts to reduce industrial emissions and improve energy security, the company said it remains focused on expanding its manufacturing capacity and supporting the transition towards a low-carbon energy system.
