Members of CINE’s executive committee were in the Netherlands at the end of May participating in a mission organized by the Dutch Diplomatic Network in Brazil to exchange experiences and knowledge in the area of ​​low-carbon hydrogen. The Brazilian delegation included representatives from universities, companies and government agencies.

“We had the opportunity to learn about innovative solutions and discuss strategies to make the use of hydrogen more accessible, sustainable and efficient,” says Professor Ernesto Chaves Pereira (UFSCar), Principal Investigator of CINE’s Green Hydrogen division who participated in the mission together with the center’s Director, Professor Ana Flávia Nogueira (Unicamp).“The exchange of experiences between the two countries was extremely enriching and revealed how international cooperation can accelerate the development of clean technologies,” he adds.

The mission program included participation in the world’s largest event dedicated to the topic of hydrogen, the World Hydrogen Summit and Exhibition (WHS), which was held on May 20, 21 and 22 in the city of Rotterdam and featured around 300 speakers, 700 exhibitors and thousands of participants. In addition, the delegation visited Dutch companies and institutions that are at the forefront of the energy transition; including the Port of Rotterdam, which is the largest seaport in Europe and one of the most important hydrogen trading centers in the world.

This rich experience allowed CINE representatives to compare the advances made by the Netherlands and Brazil in the area of ​​low-carbon hydrogen. “From a scientific point of view, we left with good news: Brazilian research institutions are aligned with what is being done abroad,” celebrates Professor Ernesto. However, according to him, the reality is different when looking at the application of scientific and technological knowledge. “In Brazil, we still don’t have a consolidated structure of companies — neither startups nor large companies — focused on the practical use of low-carbon hydrogen,” he says.

In Ernesto’s opinion, the country needs an ecosystem that brings together infrastructure, companies, public policies and financing to transform scientific potential into practical innovation, taking advantage of Brazil’s advantage of being one of the countries with the cleanest energy matrix in the world. “We have a rare opportunity to lead a new era of industrialization — a green neo-industrialization — based on sustainable companies committed to a low-carbon approach,” he says.

“The mission showed us that we have a lot to offer, but also that it is time to act so as not to miss this opportunity, because the future of clean energy depends not only on good ideas, but also on our ability to transform them into reality,” concludes the Principal Investigator.