FDE Launches World’s First Deep Well Dedicated to Natural Hydrogen, Secures €8.8 Million in EU and Regional Funding
FDE (Euronext: FDE – ISIN: FR0013030152), a leading low-carbon energy producer, has announced the start of drilling operations at the PTH-2 deep well, the world’s first well specifically dedicated to natural hydrogen, located in Moselle, France. This milestone marks a new phase in the REGALOR II Research and Development Program, led by FDE in collaboration with the University of Lorraine, the CNRS, the BRGM, and Solexperts.
The PTH-2 well directly targets the hydrogen formation zone at depths of up to 3,000 metres, following the 2023 REGALOR I results, which revealed continuous high concentrations of dissolved natural hydrogen at the Folschviller 1A site. By drilling into the identified hydrogen source horizon, FDE aims to quantify concentrations, evaluate volumes, and certify hydrogen resources in situ, advancing both scientific understanding and commercial readiness of this emerging energy frontier.
“With PTH-2, FDE and its partners are taking a decisive step toward defining Europe’s first natural hydrogen resource,” said the company in a statement. “This well will deepen our understanding of hydrogen generation processes and support the path toward production before 2030.”
The REGALOR II initiative also introduces SysMoG next-generation probes, designed to enhance precision in downhole hydrogen measurement, and includes a two-year analytical and modelling phase following drilling completion.
Simultaneously, FDE continues to progress its application for the exclusive “Trois-Évêchés” exploration permit, covering 2,254 km² across the Lorraine Basin. This area encompasses multiple known subsurface hydrogen indicators and existing well infrastructure, positioning FDE to scale up exploration rapidly once permitting is granted.
The REGALOR II program is supported by the Grand Est Region and the European Union’s Fair Transition Fund, which have collectively awarded €8.8 million in grants to the project — recognition of its strategic importance for regional decarbonization and European energy transition.
Hydrogen production from native geological systems represents one of the most promising pathways to low-carbon, continuous energy. FDE’s ongoing work in Lorraine aims to make France a global reference point for the natural hydrogen industry, leveraging local geology, industrial know-how, and scientific collaboration.
The Group reiterated its 2030 financial and environmental targets, including:
- Annual revenue exceeding €175 million
- EBITDA surpassing €85 million
- Over 20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent avoided annually
The project is already attracting attention from regional industries eager to participate in France’s first natural hydrogen production corridor, supporting both decarbonization and reindustrialization objectives across the Greater Region — encompassing Grand Est, Wallonia, Luxembourg, Saarland, and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Full press release is attached below:
Start-up of the first deep well dedicated to Natural Hydrogen | € 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.
