Panel 17: Innovation in Technologies in the Green Hydrogen Production Chain and Storage

The panel discusses technological innovation in the green hydrogen production chain in Brazil, focusing on challenges and opportunities. The moderator, Eric Fernando Boeck Daza, introduces the topic by highlighting Brazil’s potential as a low-cost producer of green hydrogen due to its renewable energy matrix. However, he notes that over 90% of the supply chain inputs are currently imported, and there is a lack of local electrolyzer and storage systems. The first speaker, Magno Fonseca Santos from SENAI CIMATEC, emphasizes the need for infrastructure integration and scaling up pilot projects, as well as better collaboration between research institutes, government, and industry. The second speaker, Ênio Pontes de Deus from LAMEFF, discusses the development of a novel membrane made from chitosan derived from shrimp and crab shells, which could replace the synthetic Nafion membrane in PEM electrolyzers. This innovation, funded by FINEP, aims to create a sustainable and locally sourced alternative. The panel also touches on the use of artificial intelligence for characterizing materials, the economic viability of new materials, and the importance of reducing dependence on imported critical materials. The discussion underscores the need for Brazil to move from being a commodity exporter to a value-added player in the green hydrogen sector.