Chile's Colbun starts green H2 production at gas-fired plant in Peru

Chilean utility Colbun has initiated operation of a green hydrogen production system at its Fenix gas-fired power plant in Peru.

The green hydrogen setup, consisting of a solar photovoltaic farm, an electrolyser and the use of demineralised water, is the first such plant in Peru, Colbun said on Friday. The utility operates in Peru through its subsidiary Fenix.

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"At Colbun we promote green hydrogen as an important step in the responsible energy transition; we are convinced that it is one of the best options for adapting and modernising natural gas-based power plants […],” said CEO Jose Ignacio Escobar.

Green hydrogen is expected to reduce the carbon footprint of the thermoelectric plant by 70 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year and save approximately USD 50,000 (EUR 46,186) annually through self-supply of hydrogen for cooling the generators.

Fenix plans to replicate this project model to promote renewable energy use in its customers' processes, added Juan Miguel Cayo, general manager of Fenix.

In native Chile, Colbun is developing a green hydrogen production project for its Nehuenco thermal power plant, aiming to replace grey hydrogen used for cooling with green hydrogen.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.924)