Uruguay sets rules for tender for R&D green H2 production

Uruguay’s national research and innovation agency ANII has recently released the bidding rules guiding a competitive process that will award grants for R&D projects to produce green hydrogen and its derivatives in the South American country.

The tender includes a non-refundable financing support USD 10 million (EUR 9.26m) granted by Uruguay’s government and distributed over a period of no longer than ten years from the start of operations.

Eligible projects have to include alkaline or PEM electrolysers of a minimum capacity of 1.5 MW, which can be powered by renewable energy or by grid electricity. Project promoters betting on grid electricity have to first agree the connection terms with Uruguay’s state-owned utility UTE, according to ANII’s rules.

Projects have to focus on uses of green hydrogen and its derivatives, and priority uses include production of e-kerosene, e-methanol, green fertilisers, uses in heavy-duty or bus transport, and blending with natural gas. All projects should be operational in December 2025, but systems that can enter into operation before December 2024 will receive the maximum amount of points during the project evaluation stage.

The competition is open to domestic and foreign companies and consortia with a proven track record of installing and operating electrolysers of at least 1 MW.

The deadline to submit offers is set for May 24.

The competitive process is the first step taken under the so-called Hydrogen Sectoral Fund that Uruguay’s ministry of industry, energy and mining launched alongside ANII and the national technology laboratory Latu at the end of March. The government is expected to present Uruguay’s national green hydrogen road map in May.

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.926)

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