HDF Energy (Hydrogène de France), global leader in hydrogen energy solutions, announced the launch of its newest office based in Barbados with a ribbon cutting and opening ceremony, at its Hastings location. This expansion establishes Barbados as a regional hub for green hydrogen development and underscores the company’s commitment to supporting regional efforts to enhance energy security, unlock climate finance, and accelerate the transition to low-carbon, green energy systems across the Caribbean. 

Speaking at the launch ceremony, highlighting the importance of collaboration and the critical need for integrated strategies and unified efforts to address energy challenges, leverage economies of scale, and drive sustainable growth across the Caribbean. Senator the Honourable Lisa Cummins, Minister of Energy and Business Development, noted, “The procurement, the investment, and the approaches towards renewable development in this Caribbean region have to be pooled. They have to be aggregated. We have to be able to use those learnings, anchored in people, create financial instruments that support regionalization of energy production, energy procurement, energy integration. This is a conversation that we in the region must have.” 

This emphasis on regional integration and collaboration, combined with a focus on local participation, aligns directly with HDF’s work in the region. Commenting on the move to Barbados, Mr. Thibault Ménage, VP USA & Caribbean, HDF Energy, stated, “The establishment of HDF’s Caribbean office represents our commitment to contributing to the region’s clean energy transition,” Ménage stated, adding that “by providing a dedicated hub for RE innovation and collaboration, we aim to strengthen regional energy independence and accelerate progress toward shared decarbonisation goals.” 

The newly minted HDF Caribbean Team has already begun operations and will oversee several landmark projects, including the Renewstable® Barbados (RSB) project; a pioneering green hydrogen power plant to be constructed in the parish of St. Philip designed to provide clean, stable and reliable electricity to 18,680 consumers by integrating solar power with green hydrogen storage. The RSB project, developed in partnership with Rubis, further represents a model for attracting foreign direct investment into the renewable energy sector across the Caribbean. This is timely as RSB provides a firm, renewable energy base power solution to the grid addressing the challenge of intermittency. Notably, the project incorporates opportunities for local equity investment, allowing Barbadian institutions, such as credit unions, to actively participate in and benefit from the energy transition. 

As a leading energy innovator, HDF’s presence in Barbados will not only provide opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers but will also expand the local knowledge base. Through targeted knowledge-sharing initiatives and training programs, HDF will build local capacity, equipping Barbados and the broader Caribbean region to lead in renewable energy innovation. 

For more information on the Renewstable® Barbados project feel free to visit the project website at https://www.renewstable-barbados.com/