Petrobras and Finep invest R$ 150 million in electrolyzers for green hydrogen, boosting innovation, renewable energy, and national industry.
The global race for clean technologies has gained a new chapter in Brazil. Petrobras and Finep launched, on June 16, a R$ 150 million call for proposals to develop a national industrial electrolyzer, an essential equipment to expand green hydrogen production and reduce dependence on imported technologies.
According to a publication by Petrobras on June 16, the initiative aims to strengthen the Brazilian industry, stimulate innovation, and position the country in a billion-dollar energy market that is expected to gain increasing relevance with the transition to a low-carbon economy. The project also intends to locally develop the Stack, considered the main component of electrolyzers and currently not manufactured in Brazil.
Petrobras and Finep join resources to accelerate energy innovation
The call for proposals will have R$ 150 million in non-reimbursable resources. Of this amount, R$ 75 million will be invested by Finep and another R$ 75 million by Petrobras through its Research, Development, and Innovation (R&D, I) budget.
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The project will support a technological development network formed by companies and scientific institutions. The proposal requires the participation of at least three companies and one Scientific and Technological Institution (ICT).
During the launch, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Luciana Santos, the president of Petrobras, Magda Chambriard, and representatives from the research and innovation sector were present.
Why electrolyzers are strategic for the future of green hydrogen
Electrolyzers are equipment responsible for transforming water into hydrogen using electricity. When this energy comes from clean sources, such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric, the result is the so-called green hydrogen.
The technology is considered one of the most promising for reducing emissions in industrial sectors that have greater difficulty in replacing fossil fuels.
Currently, few Brazilian companies manufacture electrolyzers. The biggest challenge lies precisely in the development of the Stack, considered the heart of the equipment, where the chemical reaction responsible for hydrogen production occurs.
The new call for proposals aims to change this scenario by encouraging the complete mastery of this technology within national territory.
One of the project’s differentiators is the minimum requirement of 50% national content in the developed equipment.
The measure aims to strengthen the Brazilian industry, stimulate local suppliers, and expand the generation of technological knowledge within the country.
Additionally, the call for proposals allows the use of existing technologies as a starting point, provided they present measurable technological advances.
Among the initiative’s objectives are:
- Reduce external technological dependency;
- Strengthen the Brazilian industrial chain;
- Reduce production costs;
- Stimulate national innovation;
- Increase international competitiveness.
The expectation is that these factors will contribute to consolidating a new production chain linked to renewable energy.
Petrobras bets on green hydrogen to reduce industrial emissions
Petrobras considers green hydrogen one of the main tools to accelerate the decarbonization of strategic sectors of the economy.
Areas such as steelmaking, chemical industry, and oil refining can benefit from the use of this low-carbon emission fuel.
According to information released by the company, one of the main obstacles to the expansion of the technology is still the high production cost. Therefore, the national development of electrolyzers appears as an alternative to make the process more competitive.
The strategy is part of a broader plan for investments in innovation and energy transition.
Petrobras plan foresees US$ 4 billion in research and development
The call for proposals is part of a long-term strategy by Petrobras to expand investments in innovation.
In the 2026-2030 Business Plan, the state-owned company plans to allocate US$ 4 billion for Research, Development, and Innovation activities.
The resources should support projects related to:
- Energy transition;
- Low-carbon fuels;
- Carbon capture;
- New industrial technologies;
- Green hydrogen production.
The creation of national electrolyzers is among the initiatives considered priorities to increase Brazil’s competitiveness on the international stage.
Finep expands support for green technology projects in Brazil
In recent years, Finep has significantly increased its participation in financing sustainable projects.
Between 2023 and 2025, the institution allocated more than R$ 12.5 billion to initiatives related to sustainable transition and the development of green technologies.
The president of Finep, Luis Antonio Elias, highlighted during the launch that the goal is not only to produce clean energy but also to develop technologies capable of generating value for the national industry.
This strategy seeks to place Brazil in more advanced positions in the global innovation chain.
How Brazil can gain ground in the global hydrogen market
The international low-emission hydrogen market is identified as one of the most promising in the coming decades.
Several countries have been announcing billion-dollar investments to create infrastructure, expand production, and develop new technologies associated with the sector.
Brazil has important competitive advantages to compete in this market:
- Great potential for solar generation;
- Strong expansion of wind energy;
- Predominantly renewable electricity matrix;
- Availability of natural resources;
- Experience in large energy projects.
These characteristics help explain the growing interest in initiatives focused on green hydrogen.
Technological development can reduce costs and attract investments
One of the central goals of the call is to reduce the cost of hydrogen production by electrolysis, currently considered one of the main barriers to its large-scale adoption.
According to the Director of Engineering, Technology, and Innovation at Petrobras, Renata Baruzzi, the development will include stages ranging from basic engineering to the construction of a pre-commercial prototype.
The national production of electrolyzers could reduce import costs, strengthen local suppliers, and create opportunities for new investments in research and manufacturing.
At the same time, the training of specialized labor tends to generate positive impacts for different segments of the economy.
A strategic step for the Brazilian low-carbon industry
The launch of the R$ 150 million call for proposals marks an important movement for the national industry and the country’s energy transition agenda.
With investments divided between Petrobras and Finep, a requirement of 50% national content, and a focus on the development of next-generation electrolyzers, the project seeks to reduce external dependencies and expand Brazilian technological capacity.
More than increasing the production of green hydrogen, the initiative aims to create knowledge, strengthen national companies, and prepare Brazil to compete in one of the most strategic markets of the global economy in the coming decades.
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