Chile's First Green Hydrogen Electrolysis Facility at Power Plant Inaugurated, Replacing Cooling System's Gray Hydrogen to Reduce Emissions

Recently, Colbún S.A. unveiled Chile's first electrolysis facility supplying green hydrogen to a power plant at the Nehuenco thermal complex in Quillota, Valparaíso Region. The facility aims to replace gray hydrogen used in the generator cooling system, producing green hydrogen from solar energy to reduce emissions during the process, marking a solid step forward in Chile's energy transition.

It is reported that the green hydrogen facility operates entirely off-grid, powered by a 100 kW PV park. The system includes batteries, electrolyzers, and hydrogen storage tanks, enabling hydrogen production and use without fossil fuel emissions. The unit is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 15 mt annually.

This initiative is part of Colbún's broader modernization plan at Nehuenco. The thermal complex has been operating since the early 2000s. Besides the green hydrogen facility, improvements include installing reverse osmosis units to optimize water use and implementing maintenance plans to enhance efficiency. An Environmental Impact Report has been approved, with an investment of nearly $18 million planned.

At the inauguration, Colbún CEO José Ignacio Escobar emphasized that technological diversification is key to a sustainable and resilient energy system. The regional government and the Ministry of Energy acknowledged the project's significant role within the framework of the National Green Hydrogen Strategy for 2023-2030. Notably, this development complements Colbún's other projects in Latin America, such as the green hydrogen plant inaugurated in Peru in 2024, which has fully replaced gray hydrogen use in thermal power plant units. Colbún's strategy aims to consolidate the company's position in developing a low-carbon energy matrix and further reduce environmental impact.