Enel Green Power Chile is planning to collaborate with local power company AME and prospective partners ENAP, Siemens Energy and Porsche on a pilot green hydrogen project in the South American country.
The aim is to produce green hydrogen via an electrolyser fuelled by wind energy in Cabo Negro, north of Punta Arenas, in the Magallanes region.
Enel said the project is still subject to the approval of local authorities and finalisation of the financing structure.
If the facility goes ahead, it is expected to be commissioned in 2022, making it the first plant of its kind to produce green hydrogen in Chile.
Enel Green Power global chief executive Salvatore Bernabei (pictured) said: “Green hydrogen can truly play a major role in the energy transition by supporting decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors where electrification of end uses is not an easy solution.
“Enel focuses on this type of hydrogen, which is produced via electrolysers, powered by 100% renewable electricity.
“This project, which is a milestone for the group globally, can put our vision into practice.
“Specifically, a project like this can allow us to analyze the best technological solutions to efficiently produce hydrogen by leveraging on the Magallanes region’s wealth of resources and robust infrastructure.
“As we are doing in Chile, we will continue scouting for other countries worldwide where similar initiatives can be launched.”
Enel said the Magallanes region is looking to diversify its energy mix from its historical oil and gas footprint, leveraging on the existing infrastructure to accelerate decarbonisation through wind-generated green hydrogen.