Singapore-based renewable energy company Enterprize Energy has signed an agreement with the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte to identify and develop opportunities for offshore wind, green hydrogen and green ammonia projects off the country’s northern coastline.

Under the agreement, Enterprize will identify multi-gigawatt offshore wind projects and assess the viability of coupling wind farms with desalination and green hydrogen production hubs for both local distribution and export to global markets.

“Advances in wind-driven electrolysis should enable Rio Grande do Norte to become a centre for green, zero-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production in South America” Hatton, Enterprize Energy

"In addition to offshore wind’s capacity to decarbonise energy supply, advances in wind-driven electrolysis should enable Rio Grande do Norte to become a centre for green, zero-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production in South America,” says Ian Hatton, chairman of Enterprize Energy.

“With these site and impact assessments, we can move toward the establishment of a centre of excellence for offshore wind and green chemical production in Brazil,” adds Jaime Calado, secretary for economic and commercial development at the state government of Rio Grande do Norte State Government.

Offshore wind is a largely untapped sector in Brazil, where onshore wind and solar power has seen rapid growth. Enterprize cites research from Brazil’s state-owned Energy Research Office claiming the full Brazilian coastline could support 700GW of offshore wind capacity. The World Bank has estimated total potential of 1.2TW, given Brazil’s coastline of nearly 8,000km.

Brazil has attracted significant interest from international developers looking to invest in green hydrogen production. Earlier this year, Australia-based Enegix Energy announced a $5.4bn project with the state government of Ceara to produce 600mn kg/yr of green hydrogen from 2025, in what it claimed would be the world’s largest green hydrogen project, powered by wind and solar power.

Australian iron ore miner Fortescue Metals earlier this year signed a memorandum of understanding with Porto do Acu, a major Brazilian seaport and industrial hub, to study the feasibility of installing a 300MW green hydrogen plant.

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Author: Stuart Penson