A happy outcome after an industrial drama. The closure of the Fonderies du Poitou in June 2022 had upset an entire region. But a year after the fall of the automotive supplier, a project bringing hope and jobs is brightening the landscape. Lhyfe, producer and supplier of green and renewable hydrogen, and TSE, independent French producer of solar energy, are launching the installation of a park of photovoltaic panels and a hydrogen production unit, with the exceptional support of the New Aquitaine region. A plan that should eventually create between 250 and 300 jobs.
In detail, the Paris Commercial Court rendered its decision on August 30 on the purchase of the land and real estate assets of the two Fonderies du Poitou sites. That of the Fonderies d’Ingrandes (43 hectares and 40,000 m² of buildings) was taken over by the consortium Lhyfe and TSE. They want to build “an industrial park focused on green energies and the circular economy”. The Oyré Technical Landfill Center (35 hectares) is entirely taken over by TSE and its land will be devoted exclusively to the production of solar energy (45 GWh).
Thus, the future photovoltaic installations of TSE on these two sites could supply electricity to that of the Ingrandes Foundries, and allow Lhyfe to produce green and renewable hydrogen. The electricity produced will represent the equivalent of the consumption of the city of Poitiers. A very symbolic industrial reconversion, therefore. Alban Casimir, Deputy Managing Director for Industrial Convergence at TSE sees it as “a green and virtuous reindustrialization project, creating jobs to accelerate the energy transition and the economic development of the territory”.
Several companies have already expressed their interest in joining the Ingrandes site, in synergy with Lhyfe and TSE, including an industrial logistics company which will install a 20,000 m² logistics platform, as well as companies producing e-fuel . Ultimately, this green energy hub should allow, with the contribution of all the companies concerned, the creation of 250 to 300 jobs and would represent an investment amount of several hundred million euros.
“For the region, this is an emblematic project for the conversion of a major industrial site in New Aquitaine. It is fully in line with our NeoTerra Roadmap and our desire to become the first eco-responsible region in France. It’s a second wind for the Châtelleraudais employment area, which has been heavily impacted by successive crises in recent years, ”underlines Alain Rousset, president of the New Aquitaine region. This project also responds to the need for renewable energy developers to access large land areas, without accentuating the artificialization of the soil.
