Qair showcases innovative energy solutions as Energy Observer docks in Port-La Nouvelle

From Hyd’Occ to Katanes: the first renewable hydrogen molecule sets sail with Energy Observer

Hyd’Occ, France’s largest renewable hydrogen production facility, has successfully produced its first hydrogen molecule, confirming the operational readiness of its industrial installations and electrolysis equipment. This achievement marks a decisive step before the site’s commercial commissioning and the gradual ramp-up to full production capacity. The first phase of the Hyd’Occ production unit, with a capacity of 20 MW and an annual output of 2,700 tons of renewable hydrogen, is scheduled to enter service in early 2026, while a second phase will increase capacity to 40 MW, with an annual production of 5,400 tonnes of renewable hydrogen.

To mark the occasion, Qair symbolically presented Energy Observer’s crew with the first hydrogen molecule produced at Hyd’Occ. The gesture highlights the convergence of innovation, real-world testing, and industrial-scale deployment. With Hyd’Occ’s renewable hydrogen primarily targeting maritime and mobility applications, this moment also underscores the shared vision of advancing zero-emission transport through clean energy solutions.

Jean-Sébastien Lasbouygues, Director of the H2 Business Unit at Qair France, symbolically hands over the first molecule produced by Hyd’Occ to Marin Jarry, captain of Energy Observer. 

The handover of this first molecule takes on special significance as Energy Observer prepares to sail to Iceland—home to Qair’s Katanes project, an 840 MW e-fuel facility in Grundartangi. At full capacity, Katanes will produce up to 120,000 tons of renewable hydrogen or 700,000 tons of renewable ammonia annually, leveraging Iceland’s abundant wind, geothermal, and hydropower resources. This symbolic journey of the first molecule from Hyd’Occ to Katanes embodies Qair’s commitment to bridging innovative pilot projects with large-scale, sustainable energy infrastructure, accelerating the global transition to renewable hydrogen.

Offshore installation of Eolmed’s floating wind turbines

The stopover of Energy Observer coincides with another key development for Qair: the installation of its 30 MW Eolmed pilot project‘s floating wind turbines 18 km off the coast.

As the last of the three wind turbines leaves the port this week to reach its final location, the insights gained from Eolmed are already shaping Qair’s broader offshore wind strategy across Europe, where the company is advancing over 8 GW of floating wind projects.

To celebrate this progress, Qair provided the Energy Observer crew with an Eolmed flag, which was hoisted aboard the vessel. This flag will travel with Energy Observer to every port where Qair is developing offshore wind initiatives—from Iberian peninsula to the UK—serving as a symbol of Qair’s pioneering role in floating wind technology and its commitment to expanding renewable energy across European coasts.