The government of Ceará and the industrial automation giant ABB have signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a center for the generation of green hydrogen in the state.
The international corporation stated that with the officialization of the collaboration, work has begun to make it one of the key technology partners of businesses and institutions engaged in the construction of this project, which includes the Pecém Port Complex.
The technical feasibility studies for the development of the production plant are the first step in ABB’s involvement in the green hydrogen hub. The company also contributes resources and technologies to assist in the production of green hydrogen.
Renato Martins, manager of The Energy Division of ABB Brazil, stated that the company can currently add a lot with its digital energy management solutions, whether it be a renewable source for solar, wind, biomass, or hydro, as well as electrical and rectifier equipment.
“Using equipment connected to the Remote Control Center, situated at the company’s headquarters in So Paulo, to produce recurring diagnostics and technical reports, is one approach in light of the new hub. According to him, implementing these technologies and practices will optimize plant operations and lower the cost of manufacturing H2 per kilogram generated.
For the world, green hydrogen from Brazil
The goal of the green hydrogen hub partners is to establish Brazil as a global producer, exporter, and distributor. The nation produces some of the most renewable energy in the world, and BNEF (BloombergNEF) forecasts that it will be one of the few to be able to provide green hydrogen at the lowest price in the world, at US$ 0.55 per kilo by 2050.
According to ABB, Ceará has ideal production and export conditions thanks to its high wind and solar power generation capacity (the combined energy potential of the two sources is 1,363.2 TWh/year), the strategic location of the Pecém Complex, accessibility of land for hub construction, and desalination-based water supply.
“The state of Ceará is doing a fantastic job of highlighting to the world the advantages of putting projects into effect in Pecém and luring those looking to attract new investments. This offers up new options that private enterprises can take advantage of and benefit from, according to Martins.
But, he believes that in order to become a significant exporter of green hydrogen and its derivatives in the face of the global race toward energy transition, Brazil must quicken the adoption of legislation and standards.
Sustainability
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has conducted research that suggests switching from hydrogen made from burning fossil fuels to green hydrogen made from renewable energy sources could reduce carbon emissions by 830 million tons annually.
We see an incredible possibility to become the largest technology partner within the green hydrogen hub in Pecém, considering that green hydrogen has a huge potential to be the fuel of the future and will be a key role in decarbonization, he said.
The executive claimed that in comparison to 2019, ABB lowered its greenhouse gas emissions by 39% in 2021. “A major component of ABB’s value proposition is sustainability. For us, sustainable development entails making strides toward a world that is both healthier and more prosperous today and in the future.
