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Nylon producer Domo Chemicals (U.S. office in Buford, Ga.) has entered into a partnership project with Hynamics, the 100& subsidiary of French multinational electric utility EDF Group, to produce hydrogen not derived from fossil fuels, for use in the production of nylons. was launched by EDF in 2019 for the purpose of producing non-fossil-fuel derived hydrogen for industry and mobility.

The “HyDom” project will enable the installation of an 85-megawatt hydrogen production plant, with a capacity of  24 million lb/yr of hydrogen using the water electrolysis process at EDF’s Belle-Étoile industrial site, in Saint-Fons--the heart of the French Vallée de la Chimie (“Chemistry Valley”).  By 2027, it will supply 100% of the annual production of hexamethylene diamine, a key component used in the production of nylons—primarily nylon 66, with applications in key sectors automotive, electronics, and heating & cooling. .

This project is a major step towards the decarbonization of industrial sites that use grey hydrogen (produced from fossil fuels, principally natural gas). The location in the Vallée de la Chimie within the vicinity of major transport routes opens up opportunities for the creation of a more complete hydrogen ecosystem.

The first phase of the project will consist of building up and ascertaining technical concepts and integrating the new hydrogen production plant within the larger production process of hexamethylene diamine. Due to the high-power scale of the future electrolytic hydrogen production facility, the HyDom project is being developed in close collaboration with RTE (an organization in charge of managing the French power grid), to solve connection issues. As a priority project for the industry's zero-carbon strategy and for the “France 2030” investment plan, HyDom is supported by the French government and has been presented to the European Commission for public funding. 

Said Domo’s CEO Yves Bonte, “The reduction of CO₂ emissions remains a major challenge for the industry, and Domo's low carbon footprint solutions are designed to help customers achieve their own CO₂ emission reduction targets. This joint investment in the new hydrogen unit to replace the existing natural gas-based production unit will provide the first hydrogen infrastructure in the Lyon area. This strategic partnership will help us - and hopefully an entire ecosystem in the Vallée de la Chimie - achieve Domo's ambitious goals for 2030, focused on decarbonization, the use of renewable energy and delivering customer solutions.”

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