About us

HDF Energy is a leading global player in the hydrogen industry, dedicated to developing large-scale hydrogen infrastructure and advanced multi-megawatt fuel cell technology.

These fuel cells generate electricity from hydrogen, driving the decarbonization efforts across the power generation, heavy maritime and rail mobility sectors. Set to be produced at HDF Energy’s facility near Bordeaux, these fuel cells serve as the cornerstone of the power plants and heavy mobility solutions developed by HDF Energy.

HDF Energy's Renewstable^® power plants deliver non-intermittent renewable, stable and baseload power by seamlessly integrating intermittent renewable energy sources with substantial on-site energy storage in the form of green hydrogen. Moreover, HDF Energy is also developing extensive infrastructure for the mass production of carbon-free hydrogen.

Backed by a team of over 100 hydrogen experts boasting more than a decade of operational experience across the value chain, HDF Energy is currently developing a portfolio of projects valued at over €2 billion.

Headquartered in France, HDF Energy has regional offices in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region with 20+ nationalities among its staff. Since 2021, the Group has been listed on the Euronext Paris stock market.

Hydrogen
processes

production, clearing,
transport, storage & use

Power plant design

Feasibility studies, power plant modelling, site selection

Project & Technical lead

Basic and FEED engineering capabilities, project management consulting, permitting management, grid connection

Project financing

Financial modeling, project finance and equity investment, project structuring, asset management, contract negotiation / management, M&A, CSR (ESG) management

Operations

Testing & commissioning, remote control, EMS, supplier qualification, maintenance and operation, optimization of performance, asset management

Multi-MW Fuel Cells

R&D and innovation, modular product development, advanced manufacturing processes, supply chain management & optimization, certification

A TEAM OF TECHNICAL AND HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE EXPERTS

Multicultural, global and local talents
having amassed extensive experience gained at key companies from the oil & gas and renewable industries

100+ hydrogen infrastructure
experts

1 team of global and
local talents

20+ countries,
5 continents

€2 billion projects under
development

100 MW of multi-MW fuel cells:
annual production capacity

North America Regional Office

Latin America Regional Office
Mexico City (Mexico)

Caribbean Regional Office
Barbados

Corporate Headquarters
& EMEA Regional Office
Bordeaux (France)

Southern and East Africa
Regional Office
Cape Town (South Africa)

APAC Regional Office
Jakarta (Indonesia)

North America Regional Office

Latin America Regional Office
Mexico City (Mexico)

Caribbean Regional Office
Barbados

Corporate Headquarters
& EMEA Regional Office
Bordeaux (France)

Southern and East Africa
Regional Office
Cape Town (South Africa)

APAC Regional Office
Jakarta (Indonesia)

HDF Energy was founded in December 2012 by Damien Havard with the vision that hydrogen could be a perfect means to massively store and produce clean power whilst offsetting the intermittency of renewable energy.

2012

Creation of the company.

2013
/ 14

Development of a hydrogen ecosystem for mobility purposes, natural gas networks and power production from fuel cells.

Creation of the “H2Bus France” cluster to promote hydrogen buses and initiate the deployment of 300 buses on the continent, in coordination with other European clusters.

2017
/ 21

Development and commissioning of Cleargen (Martinique), the world’s first 1 MW industrial PEM fuel cell project

2020

Expansion into Asia with the opening of regional offices in Jakarta (Indonesia).

2021

IPO on Euronext Paris.

Expansion with new offices in South Africa, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Financial close of CEOG (French Guiana), HDF Energy’s flagship hydrogen power plant model now being replicated in more than 20 countries.

2022

HDF Energy acquires a 70% stake in NewGen H2, a green hydrogen production project in Trinidad & Tobago.

2024

Inauguration of HDF Energy’s French high-power fuel cell manufacturing plant in France.

2025

Launch of HDF Energy’s on-site fuel cell testing center.

HDF’s industrial project receives funding from the French State (“France 2023” plan), under the European IPCEI program.

Strategic partnership with ABB Marine & Ports to co-develop a high-power maritime fuel cell.

Opening of HDF Energy’s office in the United States.

Executive management

Damien Havard

Founder & President

Hanane El Hamraoui

CEO

Infrastructure projects development & Business innovation

Benoit Fournaud

Head of Pre Projects

Charlie Desmoulins

Head of Projects & Investments

Maxime Gueschir

Head of Innovation & Program

Fuel cell design, sales and production

Hanane El Hamraoui

Interim Head of Engineering

Bertrand Chauvet

Head of Market Development

Florian Drouin

Head of QHSE & Supply Chain

David Secleve

Head of Production & Methods

Cross-functional teams

Claude Weiss

Chief Financial Officer

Hélène Le Pape

Head of Human Resources

Katia Maisonneuve

Head of Legal

Regional VPs

Mathieu Gèze

APAC
Thibault Ménage

USA & Caribbean
Hanane El Hamraoui (Acting)

EMEA
Cristina Martin

Latin America

Corporate governance

Listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange since 2021, HDF Energy (Hydrogène de France) has the legal status of a limited company.

Its founder is also President and CEO of the company and owns nearly 50% of the shares. The Board of Directors is made up of six members, including two independent members and three women. Two non-voting advisors also participate to the Board.

Hydrogène de France also has an Audit Committee, made up of two members, one of whom is independent.

CHAIRMAN AND CEO

Damien Havard

Damien Havard, an MBA graduate in marketing and business, brings a 20-year entrepreneurial journey in the energy and construction sectors. His venture into renewable energy started with Immosun Solutions, an innovative solar engineering company that engineered Europe's largest PV parking lot and a flexible PV membrane-equipped warehouse in France.

In 2012, Damien founded HDF Energy driven by a visionary belief in hydrogen's capacity to massively store clean power and offset renewable energy intermittency. Under his leadership, HDF Energy has expanded its global footprint to 30 countries, spanning five continents, boasting a business portfolio exceeding 5 billion euros. A pioneering force in the global hydrogen infrastructure landscape, Damien has further demonstrated versatility by launching mass production of multi-megawatt fuel cells in the company's French factory.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jean-Noël de Charentenay

With two decades of experience in the IT industry, Jean-Noël de Charentenay held diverse general management roles before co-founding Exosun in 2007. This venture, specializing in photovoltaic solutions for large-scale projects involving trackers and fixed structures, achieved notable success and was eventually acquired by ArcelorMittal. Serving as Head of Business Development for Exosun, he orchestrated the company's global strategy, international expansion, and key partnerships.

In 2017, Jean-Noël embarked on a new journey by joining HDF Energy as Deputy CEO. Here, he leverages his extensive expertise in renewable energy project development and international business strategy to drive the company's growth.
Jean Clavel

An entrepreneur at heart, Jean Clavel took over and ran the transport company TCS for many years, making it a major player in the specialized transport of mail and small parcels. Since 2017, he has been putting his experience to work on a number of entrepreneurial projects, particularly in the shipping sector, which he is passionate about.

Jean has accompanied Hydrogène de France since its creation in 2012 and brings to the Board his experience of developing companies.
Hanane El Hamraoui

With over 10 years' experience in industrialization and project development in the renewable energy and hydrogen markets worldwide, Hanane El Hamraoui is currently CEO at HDF Energy. She previously held the position of VP Industry, overseeing the design and manufacture of multi-MW hydrogen fuel cells by HDF Energy teams at the Blanquefort plant (France).
Hanane is also President of Hydrogène du Maroc, a subsidiary of the HDF Energy group. This entity works to develop green hydrogen production projects in Morocco.

Before joining HDF, Hanane gained significant experience as Industrialization Manager for Arcelor Mittal Solar Projects. She holds a double degree in Mechanical and Energy Engineering from the Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de Toulouse and Seoul University.
Patrick de Castelbajac

Patrick de Castelbajac has extensive experience in the industrial and high-tech sectors and has held various strategic positions in the aerospace industry for almost 20 years, including leading Airbus' strategy and CEO positions at ATR and NAC.

Patrick is currently a special advisor to the boards of Universal Hydrogen and H3 Dynamics, which specialize in hydrogen-powered aviation.
Brigitte Richard-Hidden

Brigitte Richard-Hidden is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in France and a member of the French Societé of Financial Analysts. She has spent her entire career in finance in investment banking. She developed strong expertise in financial analysis and, more generally, in all aspects of the capital markets, with both technical and managerial roles and extensive exposure to the senior management of the financial institutions where she worked.

Today, in addition to her role as an Independent Board Member and Chair of HDF's Audit Committee, Brigitte is also a director of one of France's largest Business Angels networks. She is actively involved in the start-up selection process as a member of the validation committee and is a mentor and director of MagREEsource, a company financed by the network.

Jean-Noël de Charentenay
Jean Clavel
Hanane El Hamraoui
Patrick de Castelbajac
Brigitte Richard-Hidden

Non-voting advisors

Aurélie Oyharcabal - Térega

Boasting 20 years’ experience in financial management positions, Aurélie Oyharcabal has worked in a variety of organisations, from the banking sector to renewable energy, including real estate.

She joined Teréga in 2021, where she headed up the Group’s financial reorganisation within the context of the accelerated energy transition. In June 2025, she was appointed Finance, Purchasing, Legal and Sustainable Development Director.

A graduate of the EDHEC Business School, she started her career at EY, before working in the financial management of listed groups, investment funds, and actors in the energy transition.

Aurélie Oyharcabal - Térega

Our expertise