Manila, Philippines – Hydrogen de France (HDF Energy), a leading company in large-scale green hydrogen infrastructure and high-power fuel cell manufacturing, has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr). The agreement, witnessed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), aims to accelerate the deployment of HDF's Renewstable® hydrogen power plants in the Philippines to supply sustainable renewable energy to the public grid and to produce green hydrogen for the decarbonization of maritime and rail transport sectors.
This MoU is considered a significant milestone in the Philippines' transition to sustainable energy production and a decarbonized transportation system. The signing ceremony was held at the Manila residence of French Ambassador to the Philippines, Marie Fontanel, in conjunction with the official visit of French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Olivier Becht, and was attended by high-ranking officials from the Philippines and France, reaffirming both countries' strong commitment to climate innovation and energy transition.
Under the agreement, both parties agreed to facilitate information exchange and cooperation necessary for the development of green hydrogen infrastructure in provinces where HDF Energy Philippines will develop, build, and operate Renewstable® hybrid power plants. Renewstable® power plants are an innovative system that combines intermittent renewable energy sources (solar or wind) with large-scale on-site green hydrogen energy storage to supply non-intermittent, baseload renewable power to the local grid 24 hours a day, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to existing diesel power plants.
HDF Energy can produce additional green hydrogen at an optimized marginal cost through economies of scale, which is expected to be used as fuel for hydrogen-powered vessels and locomotives powered by HDF's high-power fuel cells in the future, supporting the Philippines' transition to a sustainable transportation system.
Currently, HDF Energy is pursuing the development of up to 15 Renewstable® power plants across the Philippines, representing a potential investment of approximately $1.5 billion. Previously, in 2024, HDF Energy made significant progress by signing MoUs with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Mindanao Development Authority. These agreements laid the foundation for joint research and development in advanced technologies for renewable energy and the utilization of locally produced green hydrogen, initially focusing on supporting sustainable energy applications in key regions of the Philippines.
The signing ceremony was attended by Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, HDF Energy Philippines President and HDF Asia Pacific Regional Director Mathieu Geze, and MinDA Undersecretary Romeo Montenegro (representing Secretary Leo Tereso Magno). Also present were French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Olivier Becht, DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Sector Atty. Elmer Francisco Sarmiento, and HDF Energy Philippines Business Development Director Bernard A. Tuanquin, among other dignitaries.
DOTr Undersecretary for Maritime Sector Atty. Elmer Francisco Sarmiento emphasized, "This Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Mindanao Development Authority, and HDF Energy will facilitate the development of infrastructure for the application of hydrogen fuel and other innovative technologies, especially in the maritime transport sector, and will accelerate the necessary information exchange and support for green hydrogen-powered vessels and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."
Secretary Leo Tereso Magno stated, "We thank the French company HDF for extending the scope of their green hydrogen energy projects, which are being piloted in Mindanao, to include transportation technology."
He further added, "We envision a better connected and more resilient Mindanao, and HDF's plans to establish renewable energy and green hydrogen infrastructure to power maritime and rail transport strategically align with MinDA's overall goal and strategy of 'Building a Better Mindanao'."
Mathieu Geze, President of HDF Energy Philippines and Regional Director for HDF Asia Pacific, commented, "This partnership is a pivotal step in providing sustainable and stable baseload energy to the Philippines. We are proud to support the Philippines in strengthening its energy security and transitioning to a low-carbon maritime and rail transport system. With the support of the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, and the Mindanao Development Authority, HDF Energy is committed to developing innovative hydrogen infrastructure and technologies that will deliver tangible benefits to communities across the Philippines."
Renewstable® Power Plant: HDF Energy's flagship product, a system that stores intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar or wind in the form of green hydrogen to provide a stable power supply when needed. This solves the intermittency problem of traditional renewable energy generation and enables a reliable 24-hour power supply. Green Hydrogen: Hydrogen produced by electrolyzing water, with no carbon emissions during the production process, making it a highly environmentally friendly energy source. Philippine Energy Policy: The Philippines is actively promoting the expansion of renewable energy sources to address climate change and strengthen energy security. Hydrogen energy is expected to play a crucial role in achieving these goals. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA): A government agency established to promote the economic and social development of the Mindanao region in the southern Philippines. It plays an active role in sustainable development and the adoption of clean energy. French Hydrogen Energy Technology: France is a leading country in the development of hydrogen energy technology, with various companies and research institutions focusing on innovative technology development. This collaboration is expected to be a significant opportunity to combine France's excellent technology with the Philippines' growth potential. This partnership between HDF Energy and the Philippine government is an important step for the Philippines' energy future and is expected to significantly contribute to building a sustainable energy system and reducing carbon emissions through green hydrogen technology.
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