Latin America's Green Hydrogen Revolution: A Bright Future for Renewable Energy
Key Ideas
- Latin America's green hydrogen market is thriving due to abundant clean energy resources and strategic geographical positioning for exports.
- Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico are leading the region in green hydrogen projects, with significant investments and ambitious targets.
- Each country has unique incentives and initiatives to promote green hydrogen development, such as financing facilities, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships with international entities.
- Despite economic challenges, Latin America aims to reduce green hydrogen production costs to compete globally by 2030, driving the growth of the industry.
Latin America is positioning itself as a key player in the global green hydrogen market, leveraging its abundance of cost-effective clean energy sources and advantageous maritime routes for exporting to European and Asian markets. With 60% of the region's energy capacity coming from renewables, Latin America boasts a competitive edge in green hydrogen production. Chile leads the pack with ambitious targets for electrolysis capacity and significant investments, followed by Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. These countries have implemented various measures to support green hydrogen projects, including financing facilities, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships with international organizations.
Chile stands out for its highly favorable conditions for renewable energy projects and the establishment of a financing facility for developers. Brazil has approved regulations for green hydrogen production and is on track to have significant electrolysis capacity by 2030. Colombia has outlined a long-term plan for clean hydrogen, aiming for 3GW of electrolysis capacity by 2030 and investments ranging from $2.5bn to $5.5bn. Mexico, despite previous setbacks, is now gaining momentum in green hydrogen projects, with plans for accumulated investments exceeding $11bn by 2050.
The economic viability of green hydrogen in Latin America depends on factors like production costs and regulatory frameworks. While the current global cost of green hydrogen ranges from $4.50/kg to $6.50/kg, Latin America aims to reduce this to $2.50/kg to $4.00/kg by 2030. To enhance competitiveness, the region targets a cost range of $1-2/kg. Despite the challenges, Latin America is set to play a significant role in the green hydrogen market's growth and global sustainability efforts.