Ecopetrol to Build Largest Green Hydrogen Plant in Latin America in Cartagena
Key Ideas
- Ecopetrol, a Colombian state-run oil company, is constructing the largest green hydrogen production plant in Latin America at its Cartagena refinery.
- The plant will have a capacity to produce 800t a year of green hydrogen, sourced from a 23MW solar plant at the refinery, showcasing a move towards clean fuel production.
- The facility is expected to be operational by the first half of 2026, contributing around 1% of Ecopetrol's hydrogen needs at the refinery and aligning with Colombia's green hydrogen production goals.
- Colombia aims to have 1GW of electrolysis capacity for green hydrogen production by 2030, with approximately 49 hydrogen projects under development, including pilot projects by various companies like Ecopetrol, EPM, Hevolución, and Sumitomo.
Colombian state-run oil company Ecopetrol is embarking on the construction of what is set to be the largest green hydrogen production plant in Latin America. The plant, located at the Cartagena refinery, will have the capability to produce 800t a year of green hydrogen. Ecopetrol's CEO highlighted the company's commitment to modernizing fuel production by utilizing green hydrogen technology at a competitive cost. The energy for hydrogen production will be drawn from a 23MW solar plant operating at the refinery since April. This move underscores Ecopetrol's transition towards clean fuel production. The plant is scheduled to be operational by the first half of 2026, contributing 1% of the refinery's hydrogen needs. Moreover, Ecopetrol has plans to export green hydrogen to Europe by leveraging wind and solar energy potential in northern Colombia. The head of Colombia's Andi-Naturgas Hydrogen Chamber indicated that the country is making progress towards achieving 1GW of electrolysis capacity for green hydrogen production by 2030, with numerous hydrogen projects in development, including pilot projects by various companies like Ecopetrol, EPM, Hevolución, and Sumitomo.