Pecém GH2 Hub - CE
Brazil’s first state-level green hydrogen hub: infrastructure and governance driving industrial decarbonization.
State:
CE
Biome(s):
Region:
Northeast
Key objectives:
Responsible agency:
Government of Ceará + CIPP S/A (Pecém Complex)
Legal Instrument:
Cooperation protocols and administrative acts of the Government of Ceará (2021); SEMACE Preliminary License nº 026/2023
The Low-Carbon Hydrogen Hub (GH2) at the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP) is Brazil’s first state-level green hydrogen hub. Created in 2021 through a partnership between the Government of the State of Ceará, the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP S.A.) (a joint venture between the Government of Ceará and the Port of Rotterdam), the Federation of Industries of the State of Ceará (FIEC), and the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), the hub seeks to establish shared infrastructure for the production, local use, and export of GH2 and derivatives such as ammonia and synthetic fuels. The initiative includes a utilities corridor (hydrogen, ammonia, water, and energy pipelines), technical certification mechanisms, and multisector public-private governance. EDP Brasil’s pilot project, installed at CIPP, produced the country’s first green hydrogen molecule in 2022. The hub’s operation was licensed in 2023 by the State Superintendency for the Environment (SEMACE).
- First experimental production of green hydrogen in Brazil (EDP Brasil pilot project, 2022). - Utilities corridor planned for hydrogen, ammonia, energy, and water pipelines at the Pecém Complex. - Environmental licensing of the hub completed with the issuance of the Preliminary License (2023). - More than 30 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and six pre-contracts signed with national and international companies. - Projected capacity of 10.4 gigawatts (GW) dedicated to green hydrogen production by 2034.
- Potential reduction of sectoral emissions in refining, steel, and chemical industries. - Diversification of exports through low-carbon products (ammonia and e-fuels). - Generation of green jobs and strengthening of local energy and technology value chains. - Promotion of innovation and international cooperation in the energy transition.
Replicability:
This solution can be replicated by subnational governments with ports and a competitive renewable energy base, combining public-private governance, shared infrastructure, and technical certification. The integration of pipelines and common services reduces capital costs and accelerates the viability of low-carbon industrial hubs.Innovation:
The first low-carbon hydrogen (GH2) hub in Brazil with environmental licensing and experimental production in operation. It integrates port infrastructure, utilities corridors, and international governance with the Port of Rotterdam, creating a new benchmark for green exports.Actions
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