45-8 ENERGY
45-8 ENERGY is a French company that explores and produces eco-responsible helium and natural hydrogen in Europe, and operates the continent's first mobile helium recycling service (RECYCL'He), serving industrial customers in healthcare, semiconductors, aerospace, and defense.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersMetz, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What 45-8 ENERGY does
45-8 ENERGY, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Metz, France, is the first company in France and Western Europe specialized in the exploration and production of helium and natural (white) hydrogen. The company operates across the full value chain—from exploration through production, distribution, and recycling—with nine active projects spanning France, Germany, the Balkans, and the United States. Its core technology is PROMET-Hé (PROcédé MEmbranaire pour le Traitement de l'Hélium), a proprietary membrane-based gas separation process developed in collaboration with LRGP and CNRS that achieves significantly lower energy consumption than standard reference processes. 45-8 also operates RECYCL'He, the first mobile and static helium recycling service in Europe, which collects, purifies, and reconditions degraded industrial helium to >95% purity for reintroduction into the market.
The company generates revenue through direct B2B sales of native and recycled helium (in purity grades >95%, >99%, and Grade 5.0) to industrial buyers in healthcare/MRI, microelectronics, semiconductors, aerospace, defense, and AI data center sectors, with future revenue expected from natural hydrogen production. Pricing is quote-based with no public disclosure, and distribution is direct via enterprise field sales—no intermediaries are used. Notable deployments include a partnership with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the company recovered and recycled 96% of the 6,000 m³ of helium used for the Olympic cauldron's balloon. Since April 2026, 45-8 ENERGY operates as a subsidiary of Ad Terra Group, which became its majority shareholder to strengthen European sovereignty over strategic subsurface resources.
The company has raised approximately €26.3 million in equity across three rounds (€1.3M in June 2020, €4.9M in November 2021, €20M in March 2023 led by Heling) plus €3.3 million in French government grants, and is targeting €125 million in annual revenue with EBITDA margins above 50% by 2030, alongside 2.8 Mm³/year of helium and 10,000 T/year of natural hydrogen production.
45-8 ENERGY firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 45-8 ENERGY
- Legal name
- 45-8 GROUP SAS
- Website
- https://458energy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- 45-8 ENERGY is a French company that explores and produces eco-responsible helium and natural hydrogen in Europe, and operates the continent's first mobile helium recycling service (RECYCL'He), serving industrial customers in healthcare, semiconductors, aerospace, and defense.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
45-8 ENERGY industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Gas Production
- NAICS
- Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512), Industrial Gas Manufacturing (325120)
- SIC
- Oil & Gas Field Machinery & Equipment (3533)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC), Hydrogen Production Supply & Offtake (Green/Blue H2) for Utility Blending (EUAJAJAF)
Keywords
Where 45-8 ENERGY is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Metz
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
45-8 ENERGY business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Native Helium Sales: Sale of domestically produced helium from French and German production sites. Available in various grades including helium gas >95%, helium gas >99%, and Grade 5.0. Offered in cylinder frames (from 135 Nm3) and tube trailers (up to 5,500 Nm3). Revenue from direct B2B sales to industrial customers.
- Recycled Helium Sales: Sale of purified recycled helium collected from industrial customers. Provides second life to helium that would otherwise be released into atmosphere. First distribution of recycled helium in Europe.
- Helium Recycling Services: Service where company collects customer's used/degraded helium, purifies it at dedicated facilities, and returns purified helium to market. Customers receive payment for their helium that previously had zero value.
- Natural Hydrogen Production: Future revenue stream from natural hydrogen production once commercial viability is confirmed through exploration projects in France (Grand Rieu, Marensin), Germany (Guhlen II), and other regions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Helium gas >95% purity - suitable for balloons, airships, leak detection |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Helium gas >99% purity - for general gaseous uses and liquefaction |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Helium Grade 5.0 - native European production available from 2028 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tube trailer delivery - large volume helium supply |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
45-8 ENERGY product offering
Product offeringCore offering
45-8 ENERGY explores, produces, and distributes helium in Europe and operates RECYCL'He, a helium recovery and recycling service. The company also explores for natural hydrogen as a complementary low-carbon resource. Production relies on proprietary PROMET-Hé membrane-based gas separation technology delivering helium with up to 80% lower carbon footprint than imports. Customers are industrial buyers in healthcare (MRI), semiconductors, microelectronics, aerospace, defense, and AI.
Product overview
45-8 ENERGY is a pioneer in helium and natural hydrogen exploration and production across Europe, operating across the full value chain from exploration to production, distribution, and recycling. The company's portfolio includes native helium production at its Fonts-Bouillants pilot site, the RECYCL'He mobile and static helium recycling service, and natural hydrogen exploration projects in France, Germany, the Balkans, and the United States. Core offerings comprise helium sales (native and recycled) in multiple purity grades and delivery formats, alongside geological exploration services through various licensed permits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RECYCL'He: Europe's first mobile and static helium recovery and recycling service, enabling industrial users to recycle degraded helium and give it a second life with a lower carbon footprint.
Products and services
- RECYCL'He Helium Recycling Service Europe's first mobile and static helium recovery and recycling service. The company collects degraded helium from industrial customers, purifies it to >95% purity using its PROMET-Hé membrane technology, and returns it to the market, enabling industrial users to monetize helium that previously had zero value while reducing carbon footprint by 2-4x versus imported helium.
- Native and Recycled Helium Supply Sale and delivery of European-produced helium in multiple purity grades (gaseous helium >95%, >99%, and Grade 5.0) and formats including cylinder frames from 135 Nm3 and tube trailers up to 5,500 Nm3. Sold directly to industrial buyers in healthcare (MRI), semiconductors, microelectronics, aerospace, defense, and AI. German production achieves up to 80% lower carbon footprint than imported helium.
- Natural Hydrogen Exploration and future production of naturally occurring hydrogen generated in the subsurface through serpentinization. Requires no critical materials or anthropogenic energy and has no impact on available water resources, positioned as a complementary low-carbon hydrogen solution for industrial decarbonization (steel, chemicals, mobility). Target production of 10,000 T/year by 2030.
Quantifiable outcome
- Carbon footprint up to 80% lower than imported helium for German production
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use 45-8 ENERGY
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
45-8 ENERGY technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
45-8 ENERGY partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- M&U (Mantel 8)minorTechnical partner holding stake in 45-8 Grand Rieu subsidiary. Specialized geoscience research, consultancy, and services company with expertise in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and numerical simulation for strategic geo-resources exploration.
- Lavoisier H2 GeoconsultminorTechnical partner holding stake in 45-8 Grand Rieu subsidiary. Research, consulting, and services company in geosciences specializing in geochemistry and developing new methods for natural hydrogen exploration and reserve evaluation.
- Storengycore45-8 ENERGY and Storengy (ENGIE subsidiary) collaborate on natural hydrogen exploration in France. Jointly hold PER Grand Rieu (266 km² in Pyrénées-Atlantiques) and PER Marensin (691 km² in Landes). Storengy operates Marensin while 45-8 ENERGY operates Grand Rieu. Combined expertise in subsurface exploration and gas storage.
- H2AucoreStrategic alliance formed in 2022 between 45-8 ENERGY and H2Au to accelerate understanding of natural hydrogen geology through exploration projects outside European borders. 45-8 ENERGY is partner contributing technical expertise; H2Au is operator coordinating activities. Projects include Fayette (Iowa) and Humboldt (Kansas) covering ~51 km² combined.
- LRGP and CNRSminorPartnership with Laboratoire Réactions & Génie des Procédés (LRGP) and CNRS for development of PROMET-Hé membrane-based helium processing technology. Academic research collaboration for innovative gas separation solutions.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
45-8 ENERGY competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Linde plc: Global industrial gas major with significant helium production, distribution, and trading operations including the Liquid Helium supply chain. Comparable as the incumbent player 45-8 ENERGY positions against in the European helium market, though Linde operates at vastly greater scale across many industrial gas categories.
- Air Liquide: Global industrial gas major headquartered in France, supplying helium and hydrogen across European markets with extensive cryogenic distribution infrastructure. Directly comparable business model to 45-8 ENERGY's helium production and distribution, though Air Liquide operates at enterprise scale across all industrial gas segments.
- Messer Group: Family-owned global industrial gas company with major helium and hydrogen operations in Europe. Comparable as an established European-based industrial gas supplier, though Messer operates across the full industrial gas portfolio rather than specializing in helium/natural hydrogen exploration.
- Air Products and Chemicals: US-headquartered industrial gas major with significant helium sourcing (historically from BLM/US sources) and the world's largest hydrogen liquefaction capacity. Comparable in the helium and hydrogen production space, but operates at much larger scale with diversified gas and energy portfolio.
Direct peers
- Iwatani Corporation: Japanese industrial gas company specializing in helium imports/distribution and hydrogen energy solutions. Comparable as a specialist in helium supply and a leader in hydrogen energy transition, with similar focus on these two gases as 45-8 ENERGY's core business.
- Storengy (ENGIE subsidiary): ENGIE subsidiary focused on natural gas storage that has partnered with 45-8 ENERGY on natural hydrogen exploration at Grand Rieu and Marensin. Comparable as a European natural hydrogen explorer applying subsurface expertise to white hydrogen, with operational overlap in subsurface gas exploration and storage.
Emerging players
- Desert Mountain Energy Corp: Canadian junior helium exploration and production company targeting US Southwest helium-rich fields. Comparable as a small-cap pure-play helium explorer in the early commercial stage, though focused on North America rather than Europe.
- Continental Helium Inc. Private helium exploration and production company focused on North American assets, pursuing primary helium accumulation plays. Comparable as an emerging pure-play helium explorer with similar early-stage production profile to 45-8 ENERGY, though geographically focused on Canada/US.
- Natural Hydrogen Energy Company (NHEC): Early-stage US company exploring natural (white) hydrogen resources across multiple US states, applying similar subsurface exploration methodologies to detect serpentinization-related hydrogen accumulations. Closely comparable as a natural hydrogen pure-play at the exploration stage.
Regional players
- HDF Energy: French company developing hydrogen-to-power projects combining renewable hydrogen production with fuel cell power plants. Comparable as a French hydrogen-focused player in the energy transition ecosystem, though HDF's focus is on green hydrogen and power generation rather than natural hydrogen exploration.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights1 record
Customer concentration
45-8 ENERGY social profiles
Digital presence45-8 ENERGY compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
45-8 ENERGY financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
45-8 ENERGY leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
45-8 ENERGY subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
45-8 ENERGY funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
45-8 ENERGY M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about 45-8 ENERGY
What does 45-8 ENERGY do?
45-8 ENERGY explores, produces, and distributes helium in Europe and operates RECYCL'He, a helium recovery and recycling service. The company also explores for natural hydrogen as a complementary low-carbon resource. Production relies on proprietary PROMET-Hé membrane-based gas separation technology delivering helium with up to 80% lower carbon footprint than imports. Customers are industrial buyers in healthcare (MRI), semiconductors, microelectronics, aerospace, defense, and AI.
Is 45-8 ENERGY a public or private company?
45-8 ENERGY is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was 45-8 ENERGY founded?
45-8 ENERGY was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is 45-8 ENERGY based?
45-8 ENERGY is headquartered in Metz, France, in the Europe region.
How does 45-8 ENERGY make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Native Helium Sales are the primary driver. The others are recycled Helium Sales, helium Recycling Services and natural Hydrogen Production.
Who are 45-8 ENERGY's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Linde plc, Air Liquide, Messer Group and Air Products and Chemicals. Direct peers are Iwatani Corporation and Storengy (ENGIE subsidiary). Emerging players are Desert Mountain Energy Corp, Continental Helium Inc. and Natural Hydrogen Energy Company (NHEC). HDF Energy is listed as a regional player.
Does 45-8 ENERGY have an API?
No public API is recorded for 45-8 ENERGY.
What industry is 45-8 ENERGY in?
45-8 ENERGY's product category is Industrial Gas Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEACAB, Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility), with a secondary code of EUABAJAC, Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol). Its NAICS code is 32512 and its SIC code is 3533.