ABOUT
Us
The Biobío Regional Green Hydrogen Strategic Program is financed by the State of Chile and consists of a Governance comprised of private companies, public entities, and academia, along with an executive team.
Its purpose is to implement, in collaboration with the stakeholders of the territory, the short, medium and long term actions of its Roadmap, to develop the Green Hydrogen industry in the Biobío Region, contribute to the decarbonization of the productive sectors and move towards a new, more sustainable and knowledge- intensive development model.
Its purpose is to implement, in collaboration with the stakeholders of the territory, the short, medium and long term actions of its Roadmap, to develop the Green Hydrogen industry in the Biobío Region, contribute to the decarbonization of the productive sectors and move towards a new, more sustainable and knowledge- intensive development model.
Axes
Strategic
1
Governance, articulation and financing
Consolidating governance will be critical to articulating the territory's stakeholders, working on gaps, attracting investments, and positioning the Biobío Region as a hub for the production and consumption of green hydrogen and derivatives.
2
Social, economic, and environmental development
Evaluate updates of regulations and standards for standardisation of the green hydrogen value chain, derivatives and technologies, among other actions to streamline permitting.
3
Human capital, science, technology and innovation
Promote partnerships between industry and academia for pilot development, applied research and training of technicians, professionals and experts in the green hydrogen industry and its derivatives.
4
Enabling infrastructure
Identify and evaluate shared infrastructure initiatives, local technology development with existing capacities, study logistics routes for green hydrogen and derivatives, promote development of industrial parks.
5
Regulations, permits and standardization
Assessing updates to regulations and
standardization norms within the green
hydrogen value chain, derivatives, and
technologies, among other actions, to
streamline permit processing.
6
Hydrogen supply and local demand generation
Development of studies and demonstration pilots to stimulate demand and local production of green hydrogen and its derivatives, production chains, supply logistics and renewable generation.
BIOBÍO
Region
The Biobío Region is located in central Chile and its regional capital is Concepción, the second most populated in the country. It is named after the river that crosses from the foothills of the Andes Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It has a temperate Mediterranean climate.
It concentrates one of the largest economic activities in the country and has great land, air and maritime connectivity.
The Biobío Region was identified as a potential hydrogen valley due to the strong development of its industry, concentrating poles where oil refinery, petrochemical industry, steel production, glass and metal smelting, metal mechanics, cement production, forestry and cellulose production, port industry, natural gas distribution, among others, an extensive network of land, sea and air logistics connections, a powerful supply of qualified professionals and a prolific research and development activity coexist. In addition, it has interesting renewable energy resources to project the production of green hydrogen at competitive prices. These conditions give it excellent competitive advantages to boost local demand for green hydrogen, which will leverage the necessary investments for the development of this new industry.
It concentrates one of the largest economic activities in the country and has great land, air and maritime connectivity.
The Biobío Region was identified as a potential hydrogen valley due to the strong development of its industry, concentrating poles where oil refinery, petrochemical industry, steel production, glass and metal smelting, metal mechanics, cement production, forestry and cellulose production, port industry, natural gas distribution, among others, an extensive network of land, sea and air logistics connections, a powerful supply of qualified professionals and a prolific research and development activity coexist. In addition, it has interesting renewable energy resources to project the production of green hydrogen at competitive prices. These conditions give it excellent competitive advantages to boost local demand for green hydrogen, which will leverage the necessary investments for the development of this new industry.
Competitive context
of the Region
6 ports
Airport with 25,803 flights in 2022
Infrastructure for gas distribution
More than 27.000 cargo vehicles
Greater steel production in the country
5000 MW wind energy potential
Processes 57% of the national wood
The most important petrochemical pole in the country
Land transportation of cargo via rail
Prioritization of
productive sectors
Chemistry and Refinery
Green hydrogen could replace 5-10% of furnace fuel. The company Huachipato is implementing a pilot to produce 25,000 tonnes of green steel by 2026, with green hydrogen produced in the same plant. Vidrios Lirquén currently consumes high-
purity hydrogen produced by electrolysis.
Forestry and Pulp
There are 4 important Kraft pulp mills in the radius of influence. This sector generates H2 as a by-product and biogenic CO2 needed for the production of e-methanol, consumes formaldehyde and concentrates the region's heavy land transport.
Cement
The regional cement industry has been working on a decarbonization roadmap since 2016. Green hydrogen could replace between 5% and 10% of the fuel currently used in clinker production, without technological replacement.
Steel and Glass
Green hydrogen could replace 5-10% of furnace fuel. The company "Huachipato" is implementing a pilot to produce 25,000 tonnes of green steel by 2026, with green hydrogen produced in the same plant. Vidrios Lirquén currently consumes high-purity hydrogen produced by electrolysis.
Port
There are 13 public and private port terminals in the Region. This industry will require green fuels to decarbonise international routes, which comprise 80% of ship activity in the Region. Regional cargo transfer is 20% of the national total.
Airport
Carriel Sur airport had more than 25,000 flights in 2022. Chile's SAF 2050 Roadmap indicates it as a future consumer of SAF. ENAP has goals to become a producer of synthetic fuels from green hydrogen and biogenic CO2 from the forestry industry.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE
Talcahuano - Hualpén
Zone where the largest industrial hub in the area is situated, encompassing various production and manufacturing zones, with access to ports, airports, and numerous road routes.
Puerto
San Vicente
Puerto
Talcahuano
Puerto
Penco Lirquén
Hub Industrial
Hualpén Talcahuano
Aeropuerto
Carriel Sur
Red
Ferrocarril
Red de
Autopistas
INDUSTRIAL ZONE
Lirquén
The Port of Lirquén located in the area, which mainly moves forestry cargo. The company Vidrios Lirquén consumes hydrogen obtained from electrolysis.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE
Coronel
The area of Coronel has several industrial parks that engage in various activities. The port infrastructure benefits from favorable conditions due to its access roads and annexes. The port system consists of: the Port of Coronel, the Cabo Froward Port, and the Oxiquim Port Terminal.
Our supporters
GOVERNANCE
Transforma Regional Program
Program funded by
