bp signs memorandum for production of green hydrogen and derivatives in Ceará

(epbr) The British oil company bp signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Ceará to study the construction of a production plant for green hydrogen and derivatives, such as green ammonia, in the Industrial and Port Complex do Pecém (CIPP).

This is the 36th memorandum signed between the state government and national and foreign companies for the development of a green hydrogen hub in Pecém, in addition to four pre-contracts already signed – Fortescue, AES, Cactus and Casa dos Ventos.

“The Port of Pecém is one of the best areas to develop the green hydrogen project. The hydrogen molecule is fundamental to the energy transition in industry”, said bp global director of new business, Ian Spafford.

“BP is working diligently with different segments around the world, especially in the United States, to make this transition possible. We are already working to create this demand. We are interested in accelerating this process as much as possible,” he added.

The company currently develops more than ten blue and green hydrogen production projects in Europe, the USA and Australia, which add up to a pipeline of 2.8 million tons per year of production capacity.

Interest in Ceará
BP, through Lightsource bp, is already investing R$1.4 billion in solar energy in Ceará, in two photovoltaic parks. UFV Milagres will come into operation this year, will have a capacity of 202 MW and will receive an investment of R$600 million. The Icó park will have a capacity of 265 MW and an investment of R$820 million.

In 2022, bp and Ceará had also signed a memorandum of understanding to implement a natural gas hub in the Port of Pecém. But the company’s plans changed.

“We already talked to bp before the opportunities in relation to green hydrogen arose, because [the group] would be interested in Ceará in the gas area. Now, they are firm in their objective of producing green hydrogen and green ammonia in the state”, stated the secretary of international relations, Roseane Medeiros.

The importance of this partnership was also emphasized by the president of CIPP, Hugo Figueirêdo.

“It is essential that the Green Hydrogen Hub is recognized by the largest energy companies in the world. Having bp as a partner in the development of the Hub shows how advanced we are in the decarbonization strategy”, he added.