Ecopetrol Group starts operation of green hydrogen in Colombia
The pilot aims to evaluate the feasibility and performance of green hydrogen generation at the Cartagena Refinery.
Ecopetrol Group has started producing green hydrogen at its pilot 50 kW PEM technology electrolyser and 270 solar panels, located in the Cartagena Refinery, Colombia.
The pilot will run for the next three months uses industrial water from the refinery to produce 20 kg of high-purity green hydrogen (99.999%) daily. This test will gather information on the operation, maintenance, reliability and scalability of the technologies used. At the end of the pilot at the refinery, other tests will continue at the operations of the Ecopetrol Group.
The Ecopetrol Group advances in acquiring two electrolytic hydrogen generation systems with recharging stations for bus and vehicle mobility applications. These initiatives are expected to be underway in early 2023.
With an average annual investment of close to USD$140 million by 2040, the Ecopetrol Group is executing a robust plan to produce green, blue and white hydrogen.
The first stage from 2022 to 2030 will focus on the expansion of hydrogen in its operations with projects on an industrial scale and the start of applications in sustainable mobility with cars and buses.
From 2030 to 2040, the company will focus on decarbonising operations, diversifying into maritime and aviation mobility with hydrogen, and new business opportunities in the European and Asian markets.
From the year 2040 onwards, the focus will be on the widespread use of hydrogen and the expansion of the portfolio.
By 2022, it plans to invest US$ 6 million in the development of the pilot at the Cartagena Refinery; the mobility of a 50-passenger bus with a hydrogen cell for mass transportation in alliance with Fanalca; the feasibility development of new green/blue hydrogen plants in refineries of between 40 and 60 MW each, and the evaluation of white hydrogen concentrations in different regions of the country.
