# Qair inaugurates Hyd'Occ, a 20 MW green hydrogen plant in Port-la-Nouvelle, France

- Published: 2026-11-14 01:47 UTC
- Section: Power & Energy › Energy
- Tags: green hydrogen, Hyd'Occ, Qair, Port-la-Nouvelle, 20 MW electrolyser, floating wind turbines, hydrogen buses, Occitanie, Béziers, HydrOMer
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-648a58e2e831699fff2e68b0_qair_inaugurates_hyd/

**The plant, powered by three floating wind turbines, will produce 2,700 tonnes of hydrogen a year. It already fuels 13 buses and a dredging boat.**

![Qair inaugurates Hyd'Occ, a 20 MW green hydrogen plant in Port-la-Nouvelle, France](https://realtech.media/media/2026/11/33994d1cf6740dbf.jpg)
*actu.fr*

Qair officially inaugurated Hyd'Occ, a renewable hydrogen production plant in the commercial port of Port-la-Nouvelle (Aude, France), on Thursday, 12 November 2026, actu.fr reports. The plant is described as the largest of its kind in France. It is powered by three floating wind turbines installed offshore and is due to reach full operation in the first half of 2027. [1]

Hyd'Occ was built in 2023 by Qair, a group specialising in renewable energy. The first hydrogen molecule was produced there in 2025. The project represents an investment of 130 million euros, with support from the Occitanie Region, the French State and the European Union. [1]

## Capacity and production process

In the first phase, electrolysis capacity is 20 MW, which allows production of 2,700 tonnes of hydrogen a year. Qair plans to double the capacity to 40 MW, which would give 5,400 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. [1]

The process has four steps. Water is taken from the local drinking-water network, filtered and stripped of mineral salts to make it ultra-pure. An electrolyser, supplied with electricity from the offshore turbines, splits the water into oxygen and gaseous hydrogen. The hydrogen is then compressed, packed in 200-litre cylinders or containers and delivered by truck. [1]

According to the publication, producing a decarbonised fuel by water electrolysis with renewable electricity will avoid the release of 27,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. Qair president Louis Blanchard said at the inauguration that the plant was designed to fight global warming by avoiding massive CO₂ emissions. [1]

## Current users and regional plans

The hydrogen is already used by the HydrOMer boat, which dredges Occitanie ports, and by 13 buses of the Béziers agglomeration (Hérault). [1]

Carole Delga, president of the Region, said the priority is to decarbonise transport, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the region. She added that Port-la-Nouvelle is becoming "the port of the energy transition" on the Mediterranean. Use of the fuel is expected to expand in the coming months. [1]

## Sources

1. [actu.fr](https://actu.fr/occitanie/port-la-nouvelle_11266/elle-alimente-deja-13-bus-et-un-bateau-la-plus-grosse-usine-francaise-d-hydrogene-renouvelable-inauguree-dans-l-aude_65050074.html)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-648a58e2e831699fff2e68b0_qair_inaugurates_hyd/