Unigel, one of Brazil’s largest chemicals companies, has signed a memorandum of understanding with German electrolyser supplier Thyssenkrupp Nucera to expand the capacity of its planned 60MW green hydrogen and ammonia project to 240MW.

The first 60MW phase of the project is due to come online this year, with the three 20MW electrolysers installed last July. The plant’s initial production capacity will be 10,000t/yr of green hydrogen and 60,000t/yr of green ammonia.

Unigel plans to sell the green hydrogen and ammonia to offtakers in the steel and refining sectors. The green ammonia will also be used within the company’s own value chain to decarbonise the production of fertilisers and acrylics.

10,000t/yr – Initial green hydrogen production capacity

“Unigel's green hydrogen plant will be the first on an industrial scale in Brazil. We continue to negotiate strategic partnerships to enable the new phases of the project,” says Roberto Noronha Santos, CEO of Unigel.

Brazil eyes a role as a potential hydrogen exporter in addition to decarbonising its own industries. The state of Ceara has started the development of a 2.4GW green hydrogen hub at the Pecem industrial and port complex, which has already collected 24 memorandums of understanding with domestic and international developers.

Gaining market share

Thyssenkrupp Nucera is quickly gaining ground in the alkaline electrolyser market. The German firm is the electrolyser supplier for the 2GW Neom project in Saudi Arabia, which recently took FID.

The electrolyser supplier has also signed contracts with Shell for the 200MW Holland Hydrogen I project, with industrial gases company Air Products for a 40MW project in Arizona and with fertiliser producer CF Industries for a 20MW project at the Donaldsonville complex in Louisiana.

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Author: Polly Martin