(Aubervilliers / France) – Industrial gas producer Air Products is supplying low-carbon hydrogen to the Ariane Group. The energy carrier will be used in Europe for the development, integration, and testing of advanced cryogenic engines, including Vulcain 2.1 and Vinci for the European Ariane 6 heavy-lift rocket.
The hydrogen will be supplied via Air Products' distribution network, liquefied at the company's own plant in Botlek in the Port of Rotterdam, and transported by trailer to the Vernon site in France. The supply agreement is for three years and continues a long-standing partnership. Air Products & Chemicals Inc. has supported Ariane Group's development and testing activities with liquid hydrogen and other industrial gases since 1997. The US company reported revenues of $12 billion in fiscal year 2025 from operations in approximately 50 countries.
With 8.700 employees in France and Germany, the Ariane Group carries out a range of missions for the space and defense sectors. The joint venture between Airbus and Safran, in which both companies hold equal shares, reported revenues of €2,6 billion for 2025. The group is the prime contractor for the European Space Agency's (ESA) Ariane 6 launch vehicle and for the French Oceanic Force's M51 strategic missile, contracted by the French procurement agency DGA.
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Liquid hydrogen storage tanks and trailers at the Air Products plant in Botlek, Rotterdam. © Air Products
