FDE announces the discovery of natural hydrogen in the Lorraine mining basin

Pontpierre, France, May 15^th 2023 – FDE (Euronext : FDE – ISIN : FR0013030152), an independent multi-energy producer with a negative carbon footprint, announces that it has discovered significant concentrations of natural hydrogen (known as “white or native hydrogen”) in one of the wells previously drilled by FDE in Eastern France.

As part of the Regalor research project carried out in collaboration with the University of Lorraine and the CNRS, an innovative program of measurements deployed on the Folschviller well site has indeed enable to quantify significant levels of dissolved hydrogen in the Carboniferous aquifer, at different depths.

Philippe de Donato and Jacques Pironon, Directors at the GeoRessources Lab (University of Lorraine / CNRS) thus declared: “The work carried out within the framework of the Regalor project has made it possible to demonstrate that the fluids within the carboniferous formations of the Lorraine mining basin are very significantly enriched in hydrogen, with a measured concentration of 15% at 1,093m depth and estimated at 98% at 3,000m depth. The next measurement campaigns planned by FDE will make it possible to assess more precisely the potential for exploiting this strategic resource for the ecological transition.”

FDE has thus submitted an application for an exclusive mining exploration permit known as the “Trois-Évêchés Permit” for the exploration of natural hydrogen (H₂) in the Lorraine mining basin.

The permit covers an area of 2,254 km², in the Grand-Est region. In this context, FDE is already planning to carry out new hydrogen concentration measurements in three existing wells in order to further enrich studies on the mechanisms of formation, transfer and production of white hydrogen in the Lorraine geological context. A site for a pilot will be identified on the basis of the results obtained and then built to initiate local production and recovery of natural hydrogen in the Grand-Est Region.

This natural hydrogen exploration permit is part of the Group’s development strategy in the H₂ ecosystem of the Greater Region (Grand Est, Wallonia, Luxembourg, Sarre and Rhineland-Palatinate) with the objective to provide local production of ecologically and economically competitive energies to the inhabitants, industrials and communities of these territories, all major energy consumers. This project will also benefit from the future commissioning of MosaHYc carried by GRTgaz and CREOS, which will allow the transportation of H₂ via a 100% hydrogen cross-border pipeline.

With this discovery and the ongoing development of strategic gas, hydrogen and CO₂ storage projects in Lorraine, FDE once again demonstrates the rich potential of the Lorraine basin and the Group’s positioning as a leading player in the circular economy of the territories that are aiming at reducing their carbon footprint.

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July 20^th, 2023 – FY 2023 revenues