Chile making strides on green hydrogen

The Chilean government has documents prepared that instruct developers how to move through its developing green hydrogen sector, it was revealed March 24.

The energy ministry said it is nearing the final steps in the preparation of new regulations that will govern an industry that uses water as a feedstock to produce hydrogen as an energy carrier, with oxygen as a byproduct.

"The authorities are reviewing a preliminary version and we hope to have a final version in coming weeks," the energy ministry said in trade media reports published March 25.

The Chilean government in November published a report outlining its green hydrogen vision.

“Traditionally, Chile lacked fossil fuels and was forced to import the energy it required,” Energy Minister Juan Carlos Jobet said in a November statement. “Now, the coming of age of the tiniest atom will allow us to drive deep decarbonisation in our own country and throughout the world.”

Chilean ambitions on hydrogen as an energy source have drawn interest from potential importers in the European Union (EU). Pricing by 2030 could be competitive with blue hydrogen, which uses natural gas a feedstock, on the global stage.

Chile has recently signed an agreement with the EU which will provide €350,000 (US$414,000) to pay for feasibility studies into green hydrogen.