John Cockerill Hydrogen has reached a key milestone in its European green hydrogen ambitions, unveiling its first electrolyzer stack manufactured and assembled in France just one year after acquiring McPhy’s strategic assets.

 

The achievement marks a major step in the company’s industrial expansion, with teams in Belfort producing the first 5 MW electrolyzer stack on a newly developed production line. At the same time, John Cockerill Hydrogen is launching a new 40 MW production phase in Aspach for a green hydrogen project in the Netherlands, following the delivery of 25 MW of electrolyzers for a project in Belgium.

 

The dual breakthrough highlights the company’s growing industrial footprint across Europe and its ability to move hydrogen technology from innovation to large-scale deployment.

 

John Cockerill Hydrogen’s transformation accelerated on July 8, 2025, when the Belfort Commercial Court approved its acquisition of McPhy’s key assets, including the Belfort facility, intellectual property, advanced technologies, and around 80 employees across Europe.

 

Since the acquisition, the company has invested in industrial capabilities, preserved critical expertise, and accelerated the development of next-generation electrolyzer technologies.

 

One year later, teams in Belfort, Wildau in Germany, and Seraing in Belgium have delivered the first electrolyzer stack manufactured and assembled in France — a milestone the company says demonstrates the strength of its retained industrial knowledge and its role in Europe’s energy transition.

 

Meanwhile, production is ramping up at John Cockerill Hydrogen’s Aspach and Seraing facilities. After manufacturing cells for a 25 MW green hydrogen plant in Belgium, the sites are preparing to produce eight additional electrolyzers with a combined capacity of 40 MW for a major project in the Netherlands.

 

The company says the three industrial hubs are designed to work together: Belfort focuses on technology development and future electrolyzer generations, while Aspach and Seraing support production and assembly for projects already entering the European market.

 

Together, the sites provide John Cockerill Hydrogen with the capacity to scale production, capitalize on European expertise, and support industrial decarbonization in sectors including chemicals, refining, and fertilizer production.

 

Nicolas de Coignac, CEO of John Cockerill Hydrogen, said: “When we acquired McPhy’s key assets a year ago, we made a commitment: to preserve this know-how, accelerate its industrialization, and manufacture in Europe.

 

"With this first electrolyzer produced in Belfort, we are turning our commitments into achievements. It is this ability to deliver on our promises that has been John Cockerill’s strength for over 200 years. Belfort, Aspach and Seraing demonstrate that we are ready—ready technologically and ready industrially. 

 

"The next challenge is now to foster a European market that lives up to its ambitions through coherent policies that, having supported the production sector, now concretely support demand and promote European technologies. Only then will we be able to sustainably strengthen Europe’s energy and industrial sovereignty.”