Latin American chemicals producer Unigel has begun installing a $120m industrial-scale green hydrogen plant in Brazil.
The plant will start production in late 2023 and is expected to be the largest integrated green hydrogen and ammonia plant when it enters production.
In the first phase of the project, Unigel will install three 20MW standard electrolysers from Thyssenkrupp Nucera.
The company plans to quadruple its production of green hydrogen in the years following the inauguration to produce approximately 40,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
Around three quarters of the electricity used to supply the electrolysers will come from renewable sources.
The new factory is expected to employ more than 500 people.
“Throughout our nearly 60-year history, we have always been attentive to technological innovations and have invested to meet industrial and agribusiness demands.
“With this project, Unigel takes the first step towards the decarbonisation of several sectors, contributing substantially to combating climate change on the planet,” said Henri Slezynger, Chairman of the Board of Directors and founder of Unigel.
Located in the Camaçari Industrial Complex (BA), the new plant will have an initial production capacity of 10,000 tonnes/year of green hydrogen and 60,000 tonnes/year of green ammonia.
The products will be offered to customers who aim to decarbonise their production chains, such as the steel industry, oil refining, and e-fuels.
Green ammonia will also be used in the value chain of Unigel, as it is a raw material in the manufacturing of fertilisers and acrylics.
Unigel CEO Roberto Noronha Santos said: “Given the potential of Brazil in the generation of wind and solar energy, we believe that the country has a great opportunity to be a reference for the world in green hydrogen, a solution that brings versatility to transform renewable energy into raw materials and zero carbon fuels.”