France has taken a significant step towards its decarbonization goals by launching a competitive bidding process to financially support the production of renewable or low-carbon hydrogen through water electrolysis. The support mechanism, guided by a legal framework within the Energy Code, aims to accelerate the deployment of green hydrogen production capacity by offering aid over a 15-year period with a maximum price of 4 euros per kilogram of hydrogen. The initial phase targets 200 MW of indicative electrolysis for 2024-2025, with plans to scale up to 1000 MW in subsequent years. To be eligible, projects must be entirely new installations and meet specific criteria such as securing renewable or low-carbon electricity supply, demonstrating commercial commitments, providing financial guarantees, adhering to strict timetables for closure and commissioning, and meeting cybersecurity standards within the European Economic Area. Selection of candidates involves assessing technical and financial capabilities, with a competitive dialogue phase for project refinement before designating winners who will receive financial support. The procedure emphasizes the resilience of projects, contribution to Europe's 'net zero' strategy, and limits on non-EU component contributions. Project selection criteria heavily favor the price criterion, with a significant weighting towards subsidy levels requested. Non-price factors related to the energy, technological, and environmental impact of projects also play a crucial role in the evaluation process, encouraging applicants to balance financial viability with strategic innovation.