Fortescue, Qair expand green H2 plans for Brazil

Australia's Fortescue and France's Qair are expanding Brazil green hydrogen plans with new initiatives in the Brazilian port of Pecem.

The new proposals bring total potential investment in Brazil's emerging green hydrogen sector to $22bn across various companies and ports.

Fortescue signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ceara state government to invest $6bn in a production facility to begin operating in 2025. The company said that the renewable energy potential and strategic location of the port contributed to its investment decision.

Earlier this week, Qair announced a $6.95bn investment in a new 1.21GW offshore wind complex to energize a 2.24GW electrolysis plant for the production of 296,000 mt/yr of green hydrogen.

Both companies had already announced green hydrogen investments elsewhere Brazil. In March, Fortescue and Brazil's Prumo Logistica said they will conduct feasibility studies to develop solar and offshore wind farms to power a 300MW electrolyzer and related installations to produce 250,000 t/yr of green ammonia at Acu port in Rio de Janeiro state.

In June, Qair said it will study the feasibility of a $3.8bn green hydrogen complex at Suape port in Pernambuco state.

Another Australian firm, Enegix, announced plans in March to invest ($5.4bn) in a green hydrogen project in Ceara.