Lhyfe, a global pioneer in the production of green and renewable hydrogen for the decarbonisation of mobility and industry, announced that it has taken a significant step forward with the first tests of green hydrogen combustion as a replacement for fossil gas combustion. This has taken place in Spain’s Valencia region which is home to many manufacturers of ceramics and frit (a glaze material that gives tiles their shine and strength).

The combustion of fossil fuels, primarily natural gas, takes place in a number of industries including ceramics, cement, steel, glass and non-ferrous metals.  This is required to achieve the high temperatures, typically up to 1550°C, used in these industries. Like many energy-intensive sectors, these industries are seeking to reduce their carbon intensity, potentially by replacing natural gas with green hydrogen.

Lhyfe delivered three tonnes of green hydrogen in just three weeks to the Valencia region to decarbonise one of the players in the ceramics sector. This is its first delivery to the Iberian Peninsula.

The green hydrogen was produced at the Lhyfe site in Bessières, Haute-Garonne in France, which came on stream in 2024 and has a production capacity of up to two tonnes of green hydrogen a day (equivalent to 5 MW). Lhyfe transported the three tonnes of hydrogen using its advanced logistics capabilities, in particular its fleet of hydrogen bulk containers, which is one of the largest and most modern in Europe, with nearly 70 containers.

These combustion tests – the first carried out by Lhyfe – involved mixing combustion gases and gradually increasing the proportion of green hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas. To achieve this, Lhyfe has developed a ‘mixing kit’ that gradually increases the proportion of green hydrogen in the mixture from zero to 100%. The tests are described as being carried out successfully, requiring only the burners to be changed.

In addition, Lhyfe has a Spanish subsidiary with offices in Madrid and Barcelona and is working on several projects in the Iberian Peninsula. One has already been announced in Vallmoll (Tarragona), with an installed capacity of 15 MW, producing up to 4.5-5 tonnes of green hydrogen a day. Scheduled to come on stream in 2027, the project has been selected under the H2 Pioneros programme to receive a €14 million grant from the Spanish government. This project aims to support the decarbonisation of heavy industries, particularly those in the chemicals sector.