Colbún, a leading Chilean power generation and energy solutions company, has inaugurated Chile’s first industrial green hydrogen (GH2) plant at its Nehuenco power facility in Quillota. The Nehuenco thermoelectric complex, which provides electricity for over 570,000 homes, has traditionally relied on gray hydrogen—produced from fossil fuels—for the cooling of its generators. With the launch of this new off-grid green hydrogen plant, the cooling process will now be powered by hydrogen produced from photovoltaic (solar) energy, eliminating the emissions associated with gray hydrogen and advancing Colbún’s commitment to sustainable power generation.
The new facility, developed with an investment of approximately US$1.6 million, includes a 100 kW solar farm, battery storage systems, an electrolyzer, and hydrogen storage tanks. Operating independently from the main power grid, the plant produces ultra-clean hydrogen through electrolysis, using renewable solar energy to split water molecules. This marks a significant technological step in Colbún’s broader modernization plan for the Nehuenco complex, which has been in operation since the early 2000s. The company aims to enhance the facility’s efficiency, reliability, and flexibility to better complement the variability of solar and wind energy in Chile’s national grid.
As part of its ongoing improvements, Colbún has also invested in a Reverse Osmosis Plant to optimize water use during drought periods, initiated a major maintenance program to improve operational efficiency, and secured approval for an Environmental Impact Statement valued at nearly US$18 million. These efforts will allow for greater generation flexibility, higher installed capacity, and more efficient water management.
José Ignacio Escobar, CEO of Colbún, emphasized the importance of technological diversification in achieving a sustainable energy transition. “We believe that advancements like this will continue to grow across the country. True progress comes from the combination of technologies that complement each other. Sustainability must balance environmental, social, and economic dimensions while creating value and opportunities for everyone,” he said. Escobar also expressed gratitude to Corfo, local authorities, and the Quillota community for their support in making this project a reality.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by over 100 guests, including José Orrego, Presidential Delegate of Quillota Province, who highlighted the significance of the milestone for Chile’s renewable energy agenda. “This first green hydrogen plant at a power generation site in Chile is a key achievement in President Boric’s renewable energy policy,” Orrego said, noting the nation’s growing leadership in sustainable technologies.
Similarly, Anastassia Ottone, Regional Secretary of Energy for the Valparaíso Region, stated that the project demonstrates Chile’s ability to lead the global green hydrogen revolution. She added, “Through our Green Hydrogen Action Plan 2023–2030, we are paving a path that aligns economic growth with environmental stewardship and community well-being.”
This achievement follows Colbún’s earlier success in 2024, when the company installed the first green hydrogen plant at a power station in Peru, enabling the complete replacement of gray hydrogen with renewable hydrogen at the Fenix thermoelectric facility. With the Nehuenco project, Colbún continues to solidify its role as a pioneer in Latin America’s clean energy transformation, driving the transition toward greener, more resilient power generation.
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