The plant will be operational in 2026 and will be located in the department of Río Negro, on a 24-hectare plot.
The first green hydrogen plant in Uruguay will be operational in 2026, after an investment of US$ 38.6 million (35.5 million euros) and will be located in the department of Río Negro, on a 24-hectare plot.
The area directly affected covers some 8.4 hectares, including the space needed to install the solar photovoltaic park, the hydrogen plant and the hydroelectric station.
It involves the implementation of a small-scale, modular hydrogen plant, consisting of a 4.8 megawatt peak (MWp) photovoltaic plant, a 2 megawatt (MW) PEM electrolyzer, with an estimated annual production of 76,700 kilograms of hydrogen, and a hydrogen station for the storage and supply of six trucks.
The estimated daily production is 245 kilograms, with a water consumption of approximately 4.2 cubic meters, equivalent to only half an hour of total daily consumption enabled for the water intake site identified for the project.
The hydrogen generated by the process will be stored at high pressure and supplied to the trucks at a station (HRS) that is planned to be installed next to the production plant. The aforementioned vehicles will be used to transport wood from Montes del Plata forestal, with a range of 700 kilometers and a charging time of 12 minutes.
The Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay, Elisa Facio, was in charge of presenting this green hydrogen project, called Kahiros, on Wednesday.
Facio explained that the project is strategic, as it focuses on decarbonizing areas where reducing emissions is very challenging, such as heavy transport, and works with a key sector for the country, such as forestry and cellulose production.
"Green hydrogen will be a great opportunity for the country. We estimate that by 2040, 1.3 billion dollars will be exported between hydrogen and derivatives. It is a collective challenge and an opportunity for Uruguay to lead responsibly, generating economic development, quality employment opportunities, and, above all, taking care of our natural environment, while contributing to achieving fewer emissions of polluting gases," he said.
