Bringing the experience gained in the development of projects worldwide, in order to address with innovative solutions the main challenges the Chilean industry will face, was the core objective of Hitachi Energy’s participation in a new edition of Hyvolution, Europe’s most important green hydrogen congress, which for the third consecutive year was held in the country, specifically at the Metropolitan Santiago Convention Center.
“We are in a race against global changes, and seeing all the potential that Chile has, advancing progressively, is quite encouraging,” said Raúl Montano, Global Solution Manager Hydrogen at Hitachi Energy, during the panel “Green Hydrogen: Research, development, and technological innovation for a low-carbon economy.”
However, the executive noted that the local industry must overcome some significant initial hurdles. “We must take into account, for example, that integrating renewable energies and large-scale industrial loads is not easy. That is a fundamental challenge where Hitachi Energy can contribute by leveraging all the experience we have gained globally,” he stated.
On this point, Jorge Tamayo, Business Development Manager – Hydrogen & Sustainability at Hitachi Energy Chile, explained that initial engagement has already taken place with the main companies developing and prospecting hydrogen, ammonia, and derivative projects in the country, with the intention of contributing and collaborating technically in advancing the national industry.
“We have been signing confidentiality agreements to begin collaborations that allow us to support CapEx estimates and provide input on preliminary designs based on the experience we have across the electrification business in generation and transmission projects,” Tamayo added.
“Grid-to-Stack” Solutions
Rafael Pereira, Segment Sales Manager – Renewables and Datacenters LAM at Hitachi Energy, highlighted that this accumulated experience has enabled the company to offer in Chile an integrated "Grid-to-Stack" portfolio of solutions, covering all the project’s electrical technology, from high-voltage grid connection to electrolyzer terminals; even for off-grid systems.
In fact, Mario Marchese, president of the Magallanes Green Hydrogen Association and director of the HNH Energy project, explained that in some areas of the country, the industry must operate in this “island” mode and implement enabling infrastructure to facilitate project development.
“In the region, we do not have a transmission grid capable of balancing wind energy during periods of low or no wind. That is why we are implementing self-sustaining projects, where technology undoubtedly plays a fundamental role. And, in particular, companies like Hitachi Energy are key, because they can support us with the development of equipment, control systems, and energy management systems that ensure stable and reliable production of green hydrogen and its derivatives,” he stressed.
It is precisely these types of successful partnerships — emphasized Rebeca Poleo, president of the Chilean Hydrogen Association (H2 Chile) — that events such as Hyvolution seek to foster: “a fair that is bringing these technologies not only to developers, but to the entire ecosystem, closing knowledge gaps that reflect the maturity the industry is gradually reaching.”