French energy company to work on e-methanol project on Haropa Port site

As part of the ‘West A29’ call for projects, French renewable energy company Qair has been awarded a parcel on the Haropa Port site, in Le Havre, to develop its e-methanol production project Methavert.

The 60-hectare site is located in Rogerville, in the immediate vicinity of the Grand Canal du Havre and the A29 motorway. According to Qair, It is one of five Haropa Port parcels designated as “France 2030 industrial sites” in May 2024 and benefiting from government support for the implementation of industrial projects.

As disclosed, Methavert aims to establish renewable hydrogen and methanol production within the industrial port area of Le Havre. The facility will initially produce 200,000 tonnes of e-methanol to support the decarbonization of maritime transport and other high-emission and hard-to-abate industries.

The project will benefit from existing methanol storage facilities and align with the ongoing decarbonization efforts of nearby industrial sites and port infrastructure, Qair claimed, adding that together with the Haropa Port, the company plans to set up a renewable methanol value transforming the industrial port area and positioning the Port of Le Havre as a “pivotal hub on the green corridors of tomorrow’s maritime transport.”

Guirec Dufour, CEO of Qair France, commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded in the ‘Ouest A29’ call for projects. This demonstrates the confidence that Haropa Port has placed in us to implement our hydrogen and e-molecule strategy and to participate in the decarbonisation of maritime transport and the chemical industry, particularly on the Seine Axis. With such a milestone, Qair reinforces its intention to become a major hydrogen player, both in France and internationally.”

Daniel Havis, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Haropa Port, stated: “Haropa Port is mobilising its land for the reindustrialisation of the region, with the dual objective of responding to the national strategy of sovereignty in the industries of the future and contributing to the decarbonisation of the existing ecosystem. The ‘Ouest A29’ site is a historic location for HAROPA PORT and illustrates our desire to participate in the reindustrialisation of the region.”

To note, Livista, a chemical manufacturer from Luxembourg, and U.S. industrial gases supplier Air Products are also among the winners of the Haropa Port’s ‘West A29’ call.

Livista has been awarded for its lithium chemical refinery and Air Products for its NEOM green hydrogen project, which aims to produce renewable hydrogen from renewable ammonia that will be manufactured in Saudi Arabia. This ammonia will be imported by sea in refrigerated form, Haropa Port said, adding that at the Le Havre site, the hydrogen thus produced will be transferred to customers via a pipeline or using dedicated trailers after liquefaction. The creation of a network of refueling stations is also envisaged.

Following the allocation of the ‘West A29’ land, Haropa Port has already published a new call for projects on the ‘East A29’ land of 25 hectares for allocation in the first quarter of 2025. As informed, in the medium term, there will remain two other plots of land to the south of the Grand Canal du Havre totalling nearly 100 hectares to be allocated in 2025/26, depending on demand from industrial prospects.