Start-up of the first deep well dedicated to Natural Hydrogen EUR 8,8m in funding grants secured for the project
Pontpierre, France, December 4th, 2025 – FDE (Euronext: FDE – ISIN: FR0013030152), a low-carbon energy producer, has started drilling the PTH-2 deep well dedicated to natural hydrogen in Moselle.
This operation follows on from the discovery of the natural hydrogen deposit made by FDE in 2023 and is being carried out as part of the REGALOR II Research and Development program, led by the Group in partnership with the University of Lorraine, the CNRS, the BRGM, and SOLEXPERTS.
Deep well dedicated to Natural hydrogen in Lorraine: a world first
During work carried out in 2023 as part of the REGALOR I research program, high concentrations of dissolved natural hydrogen were measured continuously at the Folschviller 1A well.
With the launch of the new dedicated well, PTH-2, FDE is innovating further and taking a new step forward by directly targeting the hydrogen formation zone underground in order to measure the concentration of hydrogen at a depth of 3,000 meters and more accurately assess the associated volumes.
The REGALOR II program also aims to test the new generation of measuring equipment (SysMoG probes), confirm the genesis of this primary energy source, and certify its quantity. While drilling of the PTH-2 well in the municipality of Pontpierre will take approximately three months, measurements, analyses, and interpretations will continue for two years.
At the same time, the Group is progressing with its efforts to obtain the exclusive “Trois-Evêchés” exploration permit covering the entire Lorraine basin. The permit application covers an area of 2,254 km², where FDE plans to carry out new measurements of hydrogen concentration and volume, particularly in existing wells.
A strategic project supported by the Grand Est Region and the European Union
The REGALOR II research program is supported by the Grand Est Region and the European Union via the Fair Transition Fund, which has awarded a € 8.8m grants to the research program led by FDE, once again highlighting the Group’s high level of technical and operational expertise.
The work carried out as part of REGALOR II is an essential and strategic step towards the production of this new low-carbon energy, which could be achieved by 2030.
The regional industrial base is already showing great interest in this project, which could contribute significantly to the dual effort of decarbonization and reindustrialization of the Greater Region (Grand Est, Wallonia, Luxembourg, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate), confirming the relevance of the low-carbon energy solutions developed by FDE.
FDE reiterates its 2030 targets of annual revenue exceeding € 175m, EBITDA exceeding € 85m, combined with more than 20 million tons of CO2 eq emissions avoided per year.
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Start-up of the first deep well dedicated to Natural Hydrogen EUR 8,8m in funding grants secured for the project, source
