To achieve low-carbon water electrolysis of hydrogen, the electricity used needs to come from a renewable energy source. Julia continues, “The installation of the PV3 solar farm provides a low-carbon power supply to the water electrolyser, leading to the production of a ‘low-carbon molecule’.”

The Hyguane pilot scheme aims to produce up to 15% of Ariane 6 hydrogen needs a year. In addition, the Hyguane ecosystem will provide hydrogen to fuel heavy vehicles in French Guiana and to produce energy through hydrogen fuel cells, including electrical back-up of critical infrastructure systems at Europe’s Spaceport in case of a black-out.

The Hyguane ecosystem will be completed with the construction of a hydrogen refuelling station and, pending funding from ESA Member States, a garage to maintain hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Work has already begun on a water electrolysis plant and a hydrogen conditioning centre used to compress and prepare the produced hydrogen for transport, with works on the other elements of the project due to start in 2026.

Teddy Peponnet, ESA’s Head of the Hyguane project said, “The full Hyguane ecosystem will be commissioned by the second half of 2027, allowing for the first low-carbon hydrogen-fuelled Ariane 6 to fly.”