The synthesis of work carried out by Frontier, in collaboration with Gallileo, presents the main findings of the evaluation of the  French Agency for Ecological Transition’s (ADEME) actions in support of the hydrogen sector over the 2005–2023 period.

During this time, ADEME implemented various types of activities to support the development of hydrogen, including:

• Funding for research, development, innovation, and deployment projects;
• Developing and sharing technical expertise to inform stakeholders and public policy;
• Supporting the structuring and coordination of actors across the hydrogen value chain.

The analysis, led by Frontier Economics, is based on a structured theoretical approach focused on six key impact questions. It evaluates ADEME’s role in:

• Building a coherent hydrogen ecosystem;
• Fostering technical consensus;
• Strengthening political and regulatory decision-making capacity;
• Creating new supply chains;
• Stimulating both national and international demand;
• Contributing to regional and national economic growth, as well as environmental outcomes.

To answer these questions, we conducted a contribution analysis, drawing on a broad mix of qualitative and quantitative evidence and trend analysis, to produce a robust assessment. This approach relied on:

• Project and activity data;
• Interviews with various ADEME departments;
• External qualitative interviews (with ministries, local authorities, research organizations, businesses, competitiveness clusters, industry federations, etc.);
• Surveys of projects supported between 2018 and 2023;
• An international benchmark.

Our findings show that ADEME plays a central and widely recognised role in the hydrogen sector. Its technical expertise is a key asset in selecting and supporting innovative projects. ADEME acts as a coordinator for the hydrogen sector, facilitating decision-making by national and local stakeholders thanks to its trusted third-party status and ability to mobilise a wide network of actors. It also plays a strategic role informing public policy decisions, with significant influence at the national level and growing potential internationally. ADEME actively supports innovation and contributes to the structuring of local supply chains, helping to mitigate project risks and encourage collaboration. Finally, while long-term effects remain uncertain, ADEME is increasingly contributing to the assessment of the environmental impact of hydrogen-related projects.

Please click here to read the full report in French: Evaluation des activités de l'ADEME en soutien à la filière hydrogène