A week after clearing Brazi’s Senate, the bill creating a national policy for manufacturing “low carbon” or “green” hydrogen in the country has also been approved by the House and is now ready for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s signature.
Hours after the lower house approved the regulatory framework, Mines and Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira said it represents the first step toward providing legal certainty for financing hydrogen projects in Brazil. The hydrogen program was among the priority topics of a meeting between Mr. Silveira and banking association Febraban this Friday.
According to the Mines and Energy Ministry, based on data from the Energy Research Company (EPE), over USD 30 billion in investments have been announced for hydrogen projects in the country so far. Most are still in the feasibility study phase, with only memorandums of understanding signed with ports and state governments.
From the government’s side, at least five notices totaling BRL 20.8 billion (nearly USD 13 billion) in R&D projects were launched within the energy transition vertical of the new industrial policy, which includes green hydrogen projects. The resources come mainly from government innovation funds, agencies, and the BNDES — Brazil’s national development bank.
Two major changes made by the Senate in the text remained, one of them not so positive:…
