Rio Grande do Sul bets on hydrogen and launches R$102 million tender as a milestone in the energy transition

In a strategic move to position itself as a national reference in the energy transition, the government of Rio Grande do Sul presented a robust set of actions aimed at decarbonizing the state economy. The launch took place at Cais Mauá, in Porto Alegre, and was attended by Governor Eduardo Leite, the Secretary of the Environment and Infrastructure, Marjorie Kauffmann, and the Chief of Staff, Artur Lemos. The highlight of the event was the announcement of a R$102.4 million call for proposals aimed at the sustainable hydrogen production chain, a low-emission energy source that is emerging as a decisive vector for the future of the industry and global energy infrastructure.

Hydrogen as a vector for industrial reconstruction and innovation

The initiative of the call for proposals – part of the Hydrogen Production Chain Development Program, in partnership with Badesul – signals an ambitious and structured commitment by the state government to attract investment in clean technologies. Each project may receive up to R$30 million in subsidies, requiring companies to provide a minimum contribution of 30%. The focus is on solutions involving the production, storage, transmission and use of sustainable hydrogen, consolidating a long-term technological and industrial base in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

The measure is the first concrete action in a broader decarbonization strategy anchored in five pillars: natural resources, business environment, infrastructure, human capital, and innovation. This architecture is integrated into the Rio Grande Plan – a cross-cutting effort to rebuild and provide resilience to the state – and the Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Development Plan. The call for proposals seeks not only to foster pioneering projects, but also to signal to markets and investors that Rio Grande do Sul intends to lead, with justice and inclusion, the transition towards a low-carbon economy, aligned with global sustainability and climate security guidelines.