Hy-way to Helium

45-8 ENERGY is the first company dedicated to the eco-friendly exploration and production of helium and natural hydrogen in Europe.

Our innovative approach aims to develop jointly and locally these resources as well as those that can be associated, to act for the ecological transition.

An answer to a real need

Helium and hydrogen are two strategic resources, essential to many industries. 

Aware of the crucial issues involved in their supply, the founding partners wanted to put their solid experience in subsurface exploration at the service of 45-8 ENERGY in order to act concretely and sustainably in favour of the ecological transition and to commit to this new and unique exploration in Europe.

Multiple Research projects

Helium and natural hydrogen exploration is a real innovation with its own problematics. For this reason, 45-8 ENERGY is conducting many Research and Development projects in parallel with academic and industrial partners in order to develop effective and adapted technologies to efficiently and reliably detect them beneath Earth’s surface.

A company committed to the environment

At a time when 100% of European helium is imported at high-energy costs and carbon footprint, and when 95% of the world’s hydrogen production is still highly carbon-intensive, 45-8 ENERGY aims to develop an eco-friendly local helium and hydrogen supply chain which could therefore significantly reduce the environmental impact of such industry.

Our ambition

Be the first producer...

Becoming the leading producer of helium and natural hydrogen in Western Europe by 2024!

Our strategy

respecting our values.

Developing innovative methods and solutions in line with our social, societal and environmental values.

Our values

Helium and natural hydrogen at the heart of our activities

Helium

Our goal: responding, on an eco-reponsible way, to a tense market where demand is growing, particularly in a context where there are recurring shortages and where Western Europe is 100% dependent on sourcing helium from abroad from overseas markets.

All about helium

Our business is dedicated to natural hydrogen, i.e. the hydrogen created naturally by our planet, found in certain specific geological contexts associated with helium. Natural hydrogen provides a complementary solution to the low-carbon hydrogen mix.

All about hydrogen

Hydrogen

Helium

Our goal: responding, on an eco-responsible way, to a tense market where demand is growing, particularly in a context where there are many shortages and Western Europe is 100% dependent on countries outside its borders.

All about helium

Hydrogen

Our activity is dedicated to native hydrogen, i.e. hydrogen created naturally by our planet, usually in combination with helium. Native or natural, hydrogen provides an additional solution to the carbon hydrogen mix.

All about natural hydrogen

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Promising projects to come

Fonts-Bouillants: a Helium and associated resources in the French Nièvre department with a start of production pilot in May 2024

RECYCL'He, the first mobile helium recycling unit in Europe

Grand-Rieu: a natural hydrogen project in the South-West of France (under approval)

Guhlen II: a Helium exploration license in the Eastern part of Germany (currently under approval)

Discover all our projects

45-8 ENERGY, the best opportunity in 50 years of exploration?

Are you looking to invest in future-oriented, groundbreaking projects with strong potential? Our company is for you!

  • A pioneering and innovative company
  • An agile and resilient structure
  • A committed and expert multidisciplinary company 
  • Strong partnerships and active R&D
More info

45-8 ENERGY: supported and recognized

Greentech Innovation

The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition has labelled "Greentech Innovation" our exploration project "Fonts-Bouillants", reflecting the contribution of our activity to the current environmental challenges.

Greentech Innovation

"Coq Vert" Community

45-8 ENERGY is part of the "Coq Vert" Community, a community convinced of the need to act and already committed to the ecological and energy transition.

"Coq Vert" Community

"Industrial Strategic Sectors" laureate

The French Ministry of Industry and Bpifrance have selected our PROMET-Hé project as the winner of the call for projects aiming to develop the industrial strategic sectors, demonstrating its commitment to the national sovereignty.

Industrial strategic sectors laureate

H40 Index

Our eco-friendly exploration and production activity of natural hydrogen was acknowledge and enabled us to join the H40 Index created by MEDEF International & France Hydrogène.

H40 Index

Best Workplace experience

In 2023, 45-8 ENERGY was awarded the "Best Workplace Experience" label, which rewards companies offering the best employee experience.

Following a questionnaire administered to employees, 45-8 ENERGY obtained a score of 4.32/5 with 100% of respondents.

Best Workplace Experience

Scale-up 2022

45-8 ENERGY has been awarded "Scale-up 2022" in the Grand Est French region by Ernst & Young during the 30th Entrepreneur Award.

Scale-up 2022

Scale-Up Excellence program

In 2023, 45-8 ENERGY is a winner of the Scale Up Excellence program, supported by 5 French Tech capitals (French Tech Est, French Tech Lille, French tech Saint-Etienne/Lyon, French Tech Méditerranée and French Tech Côte d'Azur).

Alongside 47 other French startups, 45-8 ENERGY is taking part in a program to boost its visibility and support its hypergrowth.

Scale-Up Excellence program

Greentech Innovation

The French Ministry for the Ecological Transition has labelled "Greentech Innovation" our exploration project "Fonts-Bouillants", reflecting the contribution of our activity to the current environmental challenges.

Greentech Innovation

"Coq Vert" Community

45-8 ENERGY is part of the "Coq Vert" Community, a community convinced of the need to act and already committed to the ecological and energy transition.

"Coq Vert" Community

"Industrial Strategic Sectors" laureate

The French Ministry of Industry and Bpifrance have selected our PROMET-Hé project as the winner of the call for projects aiming to develop the industrial strategic sectors, demonstrating its commitment to the national sovereignty.

Industrial strategic sectors laureate

H40 Index

Our eco-friendly exploration and production activity of natural hydrogen was acknowledge and enabled us to join the H40 Index created by MEDEF International & France Hydrogène.

H40 Index

Best Workplace experience

In 2023, 45-8 ENERGY was awarded the "Best Workplace Experience" label, which rewards companies offering the best employee experience.

Following a questionnaire administered to employees, 45-8 ENERGY obtained a score of 4.32/5 with 100% of respondents.

Best Workplace Experience

Scale-up 2022

45-8 ENERGY has been awarded "Scale-up 2022" in the Grand Est French region by Ernst & Young during the 30th Entrepreneur Award.

Scale-up 2022

Scale-Up Excellence program

In 2023, 45-8 ENERGY is a winner of the Scale Up Excellence program, supported by 5 French Tech capitals (French Tech Est, French Tech Lille, French tech Saint-Etienne/Lyon, French Tech Méditerranée and French Tech Côte d'Azur).

Alongside 47 other French startups, 45-8 ENERGY is taking part in a program to boost its visibility and support its hypergrowth.

Scale-Up Excellence program

45-8 ENERGY active for the ecosystem of our sector

earth2

The earth₂ initiative, originally created by 45-8 ENERGY and CVA Group, is now supported by the AVENIA cluster. Its aim is to bring together players in underground hydrogen (native hydrogen and storage) to raise the profile of this new, low-carbon energy. Through this initiative, we also want to work towards understanding the "natural hydrogen system" with a view to making an active contribution to future exploration programmes for this new low-carbon energy.

> Find out more

Co-founder and member of the steering committee

'Pôle AVENIA' cluster

France's only competitive cluster in the underground sector.

Based in Pau, in the south-west of France, the AVENIA cluster represents, leads and federates 215 members (major groups, SMEs, research and training bodies, incentive and federative structures). Through its in-depth knowledge of its members, the AVENIA cluster is able to propose relevant collective actions, promote the development and growth of its member companies, support them in their thinking and initiate innovative and collaborative R&D projects.

> Find out more

Active member

Materalia cluster

Materalia is the leading competitiveness cluster in the Grand Est region of France in the field of Industry, Materials and Processes.

Created in 2006 on the initiative of the French government and supported by the public authorities of the Grand Est region.

Materalia brings together more than 400 players and partners in France and Europe. The aim is to develop innovative projects in 4 areas of activity: industry, health, mobility and energy, to accelerate the green and digital transformation.

> Find out more

Member of the Supervisory Board

CO2 Club

The Club CO2 association provides a forum for exchanges, information and initiatives between industrial and research players with an interest in the CO2 Capture, Storage and Recovery (CSCV) sector.

The members of Club CO2 all agree on the anthropogenic origins of global warming and the need to develop solutions to remedy its effects.

CO2 capture, transport, recovery and storage technology is one of the key solutions for reducing emissions and CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.

> Find out more

Active member

French Tech Est

French Tech is a French initiative bringing together start-ups. This unique ecosystem brings together start-ups, investors, decision-makers and community builders.

The mission of French Tech Est is "to make the Grand Est an attractive and favourable region for the development of start-ups that want to launch themselves, conquer their markets and build a meaningful future".

> Find out more

Member of the community

European Clean Hydrogen Alliance

45-8 ENERGY becomes the first natural hydrogen exploration and production company to join the Alliance!

The aim of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance is to deploy green hydrogen by 2030 and to help the European Union achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The alliance also has more than 500 members working in the field of clean hydrogen through working groups. Their role: to set up a hydrogen industry in Europe, by helping to develop innovative and competitive projects.

Alliance member

European Raw Materials Alliance - ERMA

The European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) was announced on 3 September 2020, as part of an Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials, and the publication of the 2020 List of Critical Raw Materials.  

The Action Plan looks at the current and future challenges and proposes actions to reduce Europe’s raw materials’ dependency on third countries, diversifying supply from both primary and secondary sources and improving resource efficiency and circularity while promoting responsible sourcing worldwide.

> Find out more

Alliance member

earth2

The earth₂ initiative, originally created by 45-8 ENERGY and CVA Group, is now supported by the AVENIA cluster. Its aim is to bring together players in underground hydrogen (native hydrogen and storage) to raise the profile of this new, low-carbon energy. Through this initiative, we also want to work towards understanding the "natural hydrogen system" with a view to making an active contribution to future exploration programmes for this new low-carbon energy.

> Find out more

Co-founder and member of the steering committee

'Pôle AVENIA' cluster

France's only competitive cluster in the underground sector.

Based in Pau, in the south-west of France, the AVENIA cluster represents, leads and federates 215 members (major groups, SMEs, research and training bodies, incentive and federative structures). Through its in-depth knowledge of its members, the AVENIA cluster is able to propose relevant collective actions, promote the development and growth of its member companies, support them in their thinking and initiate innovative and collaborative R&D projects.

> Find out more

Active member

Materalia cluster

Materalia is the leading competitiveness cluster in the Grand Est region of France in the field of Industry, Materials and Processes.

Created in 2006 on the initiative of the French government and supported by the public authorities of the Grand Est region.

Materalia brings together more than 400 players and partners in France and Europe. The aim is to develop innovative projects in 4 areas of activity: industry, health, mobility and energy, to accelerate the green and digital transformation.

> Find out more

Member of the Governance Board

CO2 Club

The Club CO2 association provides a forum for exchanges, information and initiatives between industrial and research players with an interest in the CO2 Capture, Storage and Recovery (CSCV) sector.

The members of Club CO2 all agree on the anthropogenic origins of global warming and the need to develop solutions to remedy its effects.

CO2 capture, transport, recovery and storage technology is one of the key solutions for reducing emissions and CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.

> Find out more

Active member

French Tech East

French Tech is a French initiative bringing together start-ups. This unique ecosystem brings together start-ups, investors, decision-makers and community builders.

The mission of French Tech East is "to make the Grand Est an attractive and favourable region for the development of start-ups that want to launch themselves, conquer their markets and build a meaningful future".

> Find out more

Member of the community

European Clean Hydrogen Alliance

45-8 ENERGY becomes the first natural hydrogen exploration and production company to join the Alliance!

The aim of the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance is to deploy green hydrogen by 2030 and to help the European Union achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The alliance also has more than 500 members working in the field of clean hydrogen through working groups. Their role: to set up a hydrogen industry in Europe, by helping to develop innovative and competitive projects.

Alliance member

European Raw Materials Alliance - ERMA

The European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) was announced on 3 September 2020, as part of an Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials, and the publication of the 2020 List of Critical Raw Materials.  

The Action Plan looks at the current and future challenges and proposes actions to reduce Europe’s raw materials’ dependency on third countries, diversifying supply from both primary and secondary sources and improving resource efficiency and circularity while promoting responsible sourcing worldwide.

> Find out more

Alliance member