EU approves French funding for LAT Nitrogen’s Ottmarsheim hydrogen project

The European Commission has approved €144 million (USD 156 million) in French state aid for LAT Nitrogen’s ABC Ottmarsheim project, removing a key regulatory barrier for a low-carbon hydrogen facility in eastern France. The funding will support the installation of a 50 MW electrolyzer at the Ottmarsheim-Chalampé industrial zone, enabling the production of renewable hydrogen for ammonia manufacturing.

The project aims to replace up to 15% of fossil-based hydrogen in ammonia production, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% compared to conventional methods. The facility is expected to produce about 6,600 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen annually, supporting 36,000 tonnes of carbon-free ammonia output and avoiding over 46,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

The Commission stated that the measure aligns with EU climate objectives, including the Hydrogen Strategy and Renewable Energy Directive, which promote renewable hydrogen in industry. While the grant covers part of the capital investment, LAT Nitrogen noted that final project approval depends on achieving sustainable operating economics through additional funding or sufficient market demand for green products.