Vale and Green Energy Park partner on green hydrogen in Brazil

The companies are working together to examine production opportunities in South America

Vale and integrated European H2 company Green Park Energy (GEP) have teamed up to look into the opportunities Brazil has to offer for the production of green hydrogen.

The efforts are a component of Vale’s “Mega Hubs” initiative

The “Mega Hubs” project at Vale is a strategy for the production of hot briquette iron (HBI) in addition to other steel-based products through the use of processes that considerably lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions when compared to conventionally used techniques and technologies.

In this vein, Vale has been actively searching for partners to support the strategy in making Brazil a top country for green hydrogen production.  The Brazilian government views this clean fuel – that is, H2 produced using greenhouse gas emission-free technology powered by renewable energy – as a “real possibility” for the expansion of the country’s role in clean energy.

For Vale itself, working with GEP has offered it substantial opportunities to set itself on the path to reaching its more expansive decarbonization targets.  It has set its sights on innovations for low-carbon steel production, with a focus on a goal to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

Working toward a large green hydrogen production plant in Brazil

Vale and GEP have identified their primary goal as the joint assessment of the feasibility of Brazil for the establishment of a green hydrogen production plant. This facility, once operational, would be used for providing an H2 supply for one of the mega hubs that Vale also has slated for development in that South American country.

“This is a win-win partnership for Brazil and Europe,” said the director of energy and decarbonization at Vale Ludmila Nascimento. “We are leveraging Brazil’s competitive advantages, such as high-quality iron ore and abundant renewable energy, to potentially develop green hydrogen supply, which will enable the offer of a “green” iron with high added value to European steelmakers.”

Decarbonizing steel

This partnership could be a meaningful one along GEP’s path in decarbonization. “We are proud to work with the largest producer of direct reduction pellets in the world to help decarbonize the steel sector,” said GEP CEO Bart Biebuyck.