Germany can’t produce all the green hydrogen (H2) it will need in the coming years domestically. By partnering with countries where there’s an abundance of sunshine or wind power, it can meet supply needs and promote German electrolysis technology overseas. Within this context, a delegation from Brazil travelled to the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) in Stuttgart in mid-May to discuss a mutual cooperation.

The project H2Brasil - Green Hydrogen in Brazil is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). It aims to establish a thriving H2 economy in the South American country. Brazil has the right climatic conditions and infrastructure required to produce H2 using renewable energy to power electrolysis. Green H2 would then be imported to Germany for use in various industries including chemical and food production, steel and cement manufacturing and transport.

Brazil is already Baden-Württemberg's most important trading partner in South America, points out Ewald Stirner, the state’s economic representative in Brazil, in a press release.
“With goods exports worth around 1,211 million euros in 2020, Brazil ranks 27th among all Baden-Württemberg's exports. With goods imports worth around 609 million euros in the same year, Brazil ranks 35th among all Baden-Württemberg imports."

The research delegation was led by SENAI National, an institution concerned with applied research and technology transfer to promote industrial innovation. During a tour of the laboratories at ZSW’s department of Renewable Energy Sources and Processes, the Brazilians were presented with state-of-the-art electrolysis technology made in Baden-Württemberg and novel e-Fuels.