08/25/2023
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
Eternal Power sees in northern Chile the best conditions for the production of green hydrogen. The Hamburg hydrogen producer wants to identify suitable areas on site.
Chile has been the world's number one when it comes to the global export of copper. In the future, the green hydrogen could become the most important export hit of the country, Eternal Power believes. Particularly in the north of Chile, the Hamburg-based company, which specializes in the development of large-scale international projects for green hydrogen, sees the best conditions for the production of the green energy carrier.
The company cites the production of the necessary green electricity as the main cost driver for the price of green hydrogen. Here the country in the west of South America is in a particularly good position. The Hamburg-based company refers to a joint analysis by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Chilean Ministry of Energy. According to this, Chile could generate 70 times more green electricity than it needs for its own requirements due to its geographical location and the associated climatic conditions.
However, it is not at all easy for the Latin American country to meet this demand in a climate-friendly way at present. This is where Arne Sanne, co-founder and managing director of Eternal Power, recognizes an entry opportunity for foreign investors. "Chile lacks the appropriate infrastructure to transport electricity from the particularly sunny regions such as around Antofagasta (a city in northern Chile, editor's note) to the rest of the country. The construction of large plants for export should therefore also benefit the local population," Sanne said.
Support from Chilean government
The plan: desalinated seawater could be converted into shippable gases such as ammonia and methanol with the help of the green power, thus producing green hydrogen on a large scale. Eternal Power expects that the first supplies of green hydrogen and its derivatives could reach Europe and Germany from 2030.
The Chilean government has also already recognized the hydrogen potential of its country. The company, which was founded in 2021 and also has former EnBW CEO Frank Mastiaux on board, refers to Chile's National Hydrogen Strategy. The Ministry of Energy assumes, as it says, prices around 1.50 U.S. dollars (the equivalent of 1.38 euros) for a kilogram of green hydrogen.
Eternal Power wants to find local partners to identify suitable areas for the development of large-scale plants. In a second step, the Hamburg-based company wants to provide logistics and find customers for the green hydrogen and its derivatives in Germany and Europe.
Author: Davina Spohn
