KEY POINTS
- Anglo American reveals promising early findings from Chile’s Green Hydrogen Valley study.
- The project aims to position Chile as a leader in green hydrogen production.
- Green hydrogen is expected to support global decarbonisation and energy transition goals.
Anglo American has reported optimistic initial findings from its study of the Green Hydrogen Valley in Chile, indicating that the area has the potential to become one of the world’s leading producers of green hydrogen. The project is situated in Chile’s arid Atacama Desert and is an integral part of Chile’s strategy to tap into its renewable power assets to generate and export green hydrogen, a critical component of the world’s net-zero transition. As reported by Mining Weekly, the study is a major advance towards achieving Chile’s strategic plan to become a major player in the green energy sector.
The first results show that Chile has favorable conditions for the production of green hydrogen due to high solar irradiance and relatively stable wind conditions. In its report, Anglo American underlines the possibility of achieving high production rates, which could significantly help decrease the global carbon emissions.
Renewable energy and green hydrogen production
Chile’s Green Hydrogen Valley project builds on the country’s abundant renewable energy potential to generate green hydrogen, which is produced by using electricity from renewable sources to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen and oxygen. This process does not generate any carbon and thus can be considered as a perfect source of fuel for industries that are looking forward to minimize their carbon footprint.
The Atacama Desert has the necessary conditions of abundant sunshine and strong winds to produce the renewable electricity that is required to produce green hydrogen. These factors, together with the fact that Chile has set its goal on the net-zero emissions by 2050, provide the project with a competitive edge. Preliminary findings from the research indicate that the resources available in the region can support the production of hydrogen in large quantities to support the transition to reduced reliance on fossil energy carriers in different industries.
Promoting decarbonisation and international energy targets
Green hydrogen is viewed as a key piece in the global drive towards the use of cleaner sources of energy. It provides an option for sectors that are hard to electrify, including heavy transport, maritime, and steel sectors. This is a chance for the Chilean government, Anglo American and other partners to place the country at the cutting edge of the green energy revolution.
The results of Anglo American’s study support the positive outlook for the project to generate enough green hydrogen for the local and export markets and place Chile as a global provider of clean fuel. Also, the project is in line with the country’s energy plan that seeks to increase the generation of renewable energy and support sustainable development of the economy.
A new hope for global green energy aspirations
Chile’s Green Hydrogen Valley initiative also assures great economical returns along with the significance of global cooperation in combating Climate Change. While Anglo American is still assessing the feasibility of the project, the study suggests that Chile could soon become a major supplier of green hydrogen in the world.
Mining Weekly has reported that the subsequent phases of the study will include assessment of the transport and facilities that will be required to support the production and supply. The Green Hydrogen Valley of Chile is well-positioned to create a long-lasting impact on the green energy map of the world and help the world to shift towards a sustainable low-carbon economy.
Chile is showcasing that it is ready for green hydrogen, proving that investing in clean energy is possible even as the climate crisis continues to unfold
