2023, what a year!

As we set our sights on a year 2024 that promises to be busy, all the EODev teams share their best wishes with you to accelerate the decarbonization of the planet! It is also an opportunity for a (very) quick look back at what happened in 2023, based on a few significant events that shared our values and exemplify the wide variety of applications of our hydrogen-based solutions.

Faithful to its educational commitments, EODev participated in February 2023 in the “Positive Energies Summit” initiated by the Energy Observer Foundation, in collaboration with the municipality of Morzine Avoriaz, in order to supply low-carbon electricity to the exhibition village thanks to our GEH₂®. This great event, in a grandiose setting, allowed schools in the region and several thousand visitors to the resort to better understand the challenges of decarbonization, both in terms of mobility and industrial applications, and to discover solutions already available. While 50% of carbon emissions from winter sports are linked to travel to resorts, and global warming is already having a strong impact on our mountains, it is essential to show that solutions do exist.

2023 was also rich in international presence, in the four corners of the globe, both to present our GEH₂® and REXH₂® solutions to new markets, and to support the initiatives of our partners, customers and local distributors. From the shored of Brazil to the United States, from Australia to the Middle East, and all around Europe, EODev exhibited its solutions at no less than 24 trade shows — 2 per month on average! Not to mention the participation of our teams in numerous conferences and demonstrations. One of the most notable was our presence in March 2023 at Fuel Cell Expo in Tokyo, which we could compare, in a more industrial and B2B version, to the famous Consumer Electronics Show (CES ) from Las Vegas. The presentation of the GEH₂® in a country at the heart of hydrogen engineering highlighted how the use of Toyota PEM fuel cells can multiply product development opportunities when combining technologies to provide practical answers to the daily problems of decarbonization; in particular the use of harmful diesel generators which we would like to see disappear soon!

With regards maritime applications, 2023 marked the launch of two innovative projects, for different objectives: on the one hand, in April, the installation of the REXH₂® on board a first Samana 59 hybrid, Fountaine Pajot's advanced sailing catamaran, to ensure the energy supply to the on-board systems. And, on the other hand, the installation in September of two REXH₂® aboard Bluegame's HSV fast tender, equipped with foils and intended to serve as a "chase boat" for American Magic during the next America's Cup in Barcelona in 2024. The same fully integrated module for two very different uses, and two projects which concentrate the best technologies, perfectly illustrating the potential for use of our hydrogen solutions in the maritime sector.

Another range of applications, EODev's GEH₂® took part in numerous "general public" events, with the supply of electricity from "fan zones" to mobile technical bases. Visible on a stage of the cycling Tour de France race, during the French stage of the SailGP international sailing championship in Saint-Tropez, the GEH₂® also made an impression in Australia, during the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix in March — we even saw spectators taking a nap nearby! Finally, its presence during the Parisian music festival We Love Green at the beginning of June, in front of more than 100,000 people, demonstrated its reliability by supplying low-carbon electricity to one of the festival's stages for three days.

The order of our 100th GEH₂® marked the beginning of the second semester. This delivery made it possible to bring together most of the EODev teams to celebrate this "centenary", and also highlighted the performance of our stationary electro-hydrogen power generator, and the quality of the teamwork which presided over its destiny: from R&D to after-sales service, including the production chain or financial services, everyone was able to apprehend for real the results of their daily involvement.

The signing of the first franchise contract down under for the Asia-Pacific region with Toyota Australia was another milestone to celebrate. Diversifying its product offering, Toyota Australia inaugurated the first assembly line overseas of the GEH₂®. This achievement results from a collaboration with our local distributor Blue Diamond Machinery. It will avoid costly transportation costs and save their carbon emissions, while strengthening EODev's presence in a market that is already buoyant.

Finally, this quick overview would not be complete without a brief reminder of another major event in the life of the company, namely the fundraising of 46 million Euros finalized in November, which was widely reported in the media, being the largest fundraising in the sector over the period — in an unfavorable economic and financial context. Now that this milestone has been reached, acceleration is in order, with major new developments coming quickly. Watch this space... Happy New Year 2024!