Chile’s ongoing energy transition gained new momentum as Colbún, one of the country’s largest power generation companies, inaugurated its first industrial-scale green hydrogen plant integrated into a thermoelectric power station.
Located at the Nehuenco Complex in Quillota, the project replaces gray hydrogen previously used in the facility’s cooling processes with renewable hydrogen, cutting up to 15 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
While modest in scale compared to Chile’s broader decarbonization targets, the project represents a crucial step in industrial integration of green hydrogen within existing fossil-based infrastructure—a technical and operational challenge many utilities continue to face. The system operates off-grid, combining a 100 kW solar farm, battery storage, and an electrolyzer, all powered by renewable energy. This setup enables Colbún to produce hydrogen without grid dependency, improving both reliability and emission control within the thermoelectric complex.
The Nehuenco Complex currently provides enough power for over 570,000 homes. As Chile expands variable renewable capacity—mainly from solar and wind—thermal plants like Nehuenco remain essential for grid stability. The integration of green hydrogen provides a bridge between renewable intermittency and firm generation, aligning with the government’s long-term plan to decarbonize the national grid by 2040.
Beyond the hydrogen integration, Colbún has invested in several upgrades to improve the site’s environmental performance and operational flexibility. A newly installed reverse osmosis system reduces freshwater consumption during drought periods, while an US$18 million Environmental Impact Statement approval will enable capacity increases and greater efficiency. These measures reflect a broader regional trend toward hybridization—optimizing thermal assets rather than retiring them prematurely.
At the inauguration event, attended by more than 100 participants, regional and national authorities highlighted the project’s strategic relevance. José Orrego, Presidential Delegate of Quillota Province, framed the plant as a tangible step in President Gabriel Boric’s renewable energy strategy.
Colbún’s hydrogen investments extend beyond Chile. In 2024, its Fenix thermoelectric plant in Peru became one of the first in the region to replace 100% of gray hydrogen with green hydrogen, underscoring a regional strategy focused on decarbonization and operational resilience.
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