USP (University of São Paulo) is conducting tests on the world's first experimental plant for the production of hydrogen renewable from ethanol.
The project, developed by the institution's RCGI (Center for Research and Innovation in Greenhouse Gases), aims to strengthen the sustainable energy matrix in Brazil.
With an investment of R$50 million, the pilot plant is located in Cidade Universitária, in São Paulo, the result of a partnership with large companies, such as Shell Brasil, Raízen, Toyota, Hyundai and EMTU (São Paulo Metropolitan Urban Transport Company).
The technology developed aims to demonstrate the viability of ethanol as a vector for the production of sustainable hydrogen, taking advantage of the infrastructure already existing in the country.
According to USP, the pilot plant has the capacity to produce 100 kg of hydrogen per day, a volume that can be used to supply three buses and two light vehicles.
The hydrogen generated will be tested in USP public transport buses and in Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo vehicles, both powered by hydrogen.
Hydrogen production at this pilot plant occurs through steam reforming of ethanol, a chemical process in which ethanol reacts with water at high temperatures, resulting in the release of hydrogen.
This method stands out for its efficiency and the possibility of reducing carbon emissions, since CO2 released in the process is biogenic, that is, it can be compensated in the sugarcane cultivation cycle.
At this stage, the conversion rate of ethanol into hydrogen and the fuel consumption and performance indices in vehicles are being evaluated.
“We are promoting a revolution in the energy matrix by demonstrating that it is possible to produce sustainable hydrogen from ethanol, with great logistical efficiency”, explains Julio Meneghini, scientific director of RCGI.
According to him, Brazil has unique conditions for developing this solution, considering the already consolidated infrastructure for ethanol.
“This opens up possibilities for the decarbonization of industry in sectors with high levels of emissions, such as the steel and cement industries, as well as the chemical and petrochemical sectors, in the production of fertilizers and in the large-scale transportation of cargo and engers,” he highlighted.
Impact on industry and mobility
According to USP, the implementation of the pilot plant paves the way for, for example, aircraft manufacturers and truck and bus assemblers to benefit directly from the initiative, since they will have access to a sustainable source for the development of technologies based on fuel cells.
“The promotion of this technology can bring enormous benefits to Brazilian industry. The availability of hydrogen on a large scale is essential to enable advances on several fronts, from mobility to the production of sustainable fertilizers,” highlights Meneghini.
perspectives
USP's rector, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, highlights that based on the results presented by the project, the university hopes to obtain data that can guide future studies on its application on a larger scale.
“If we can offer cheaper energy with a lower carbon footprint, we will certainly be world leaders (…) Great technological advances began this way: with academic research transformed into innovation for society,” he said.
The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, highlighted the importance of the initiative for the state's economy and its expansion potential during his visit to the plant on February 19.
“We have water availability, infrastructure and qualified labor, which qualify us to be partners in the production of clean and renewable energy for other states and also abroad. We are taking advantage of the potential of sugarcane to develop solutions that will transform and impact entire industries, such as transportation,” notes the governor.
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