Loading...
Loading...
the-hydrogen-economy-opportunity-in-south-america
the-hydrogen-economy-opportunity-in-south-america

The hydrogen economy opportunity in South America

In the last decade the importance of hydrogen as an energy vector and the need to decarbonise the energy supply dictated by climate change initiatives, combined with the rapid progress of renewable electricity generation from wind and solar energy that is becoming more competitive with traditional generation methods, and the advances made in hydrogen produced by electrolysis, are making green hydrogen a viable alternative for decarbonisation.

With vast renewable energy sources, South America is beginning to analyse the hydrogen alternatives.

South American economies today – the significance of fossil fuels
Fossil fuels account for almost two thirds of the total energy supply in South and Central America, as presented in Figure 1, although the situation presents specific conditions in the different countries, depending on its particular geography and natural resources inventory.

Brazil, which in the last decade became rich in oil and some gas through its offshore fields, also has a high participation of hydroelectricity which accounts for 11.5% of Total Energy Supply (TES), but with the risk of droughts increasing due to the variability of rainfall, Brazil has been trying to diversify its energy sources. The country is a large producer of sugar and soybean, with vast territory and an extensive use of ethanol in vehicles (biofuels represent 31% of TES), but also large potential for solar and wind. Being the larger economy of the region, with access to capital markets to fund investments, it has offered incentives to invest in non- traditional renewable energies.

... to continue reading you must be subscribed

Subscribe Today

Paywall Asset Header Graphic

To gain access to this article and all our other content, you will need to subscribe to H2 View.

From the latest print editions, to 24/7 online access to exclusive interviews, authoritative columnists and the H2 View news archive, a subscription is the best way for you to stay up to date with developments in the hydrogen community.

Please wait...