Brazil takes a new step toward energy transition. Eletrobras FURNAS has launched a research facility for green hydrogen generation in the Itumbiara Hydroelectric Power Plant, located between Minas Gerais and Goiás.
With a R$ 45 million investment, the goal is to obtain expertise for the entire Brazilian electric sector and contribute to the country’s energy matrix transition.
The primary purpose of the research is to evaluate the storage and integration of seasonal and intermittent energy sources into the National Interconnected System (SIN). Eletrobras FURNAS was assisted in launching the project by the companies Base-Energia Sustentável and PV Solar, as well as the Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Universidade de Campinas (Unicamp), Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial de Goiás (Senai-GO), the University of Bradenburg (Germany), and the Centro de Pesquisas de Energia (CEPEL).
The energy provided by a photovoltaic system is used to power an electrolyzer, which converts water to hydrogen via a physical-chemical reaction. This hydrogen is kept as a gas in a tank installed at the plant with a capacity of 900 m3 at 27 bar. Finally, a fuel cell is employed to transform the hydrogen’s chemical energy to electrical energy.
The energy will be connected to the SIN via a substation erected at the Itumbiara hydropower facility and will be used to power the hydroelectric plant’s auxiliary services, including as lighting, ventilation, and power outlets.
Along with hydrogen storage, the study is investigating electrochemical storage in lithium batteries. While this method is highly efficient (about 94 percent), lithium batteries have a limited storage capacity and remain an extremely expensive technology. While hydrogen storage is more durable, its efficiency is lowered by roughly 35% due to losses during electrolysis and reconversion to power.
