SENAI Cimatec inaugurates Bahia's first low-carbon hydrogen pilot plant and strengthens Brazil's leading role in the energy transition

Bahia is establishing itself as a key Brazilian hub for the hydrogen economy with the inauguration of the Reference Center for Low-Carbon and Green Hydrogen Technologies, located at SENAI Cimatec Park in Camaçari. With investments exceeding R$ 40 million, the project is the result of a partnership between SENAI Cimatec, Hytron, and Petrogal Brasil (a Galp-Sinopec joint venture), with funding from the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation (Embrapii). This new infrastructure marks a milestone for applied research, technology validation, and the development of the national green hydrogen supply chain, expanding Brazil's capacity to produce high-value-added solutions for the decarbonization of industry and mobility.

Infrastructure integrates research, industry, and innovation to accelerate the hydrogen economy

The Reference Center houses one of the country's most comprehensive experimental platforms dedicated to hydrogen technologies. The pilot plant features hydrogen production via water electrolysis, a renewable energy microgrid, a refueling station for hydrogen-powered vehicles, combustion laboratories, and a green ammonia pilot plant. This setup allows for the evaluation of the entire technology chain—from generation to storage, transport, and industrial use of the fuel. The facility enables the validation of equipment, processes, and applications in an operational environment prior to commercial-scale deployment, thereby reducing technological risks and accelerating the maturity of new solutions.

Foto: Website FIEB

The project also highlights the importance of cooperation among research institutions, industry, and global technology suppliers. Hytron contributed its expertise in electrolysis systems, while Toyota provided a Mirai vehicle for the plant's refueling tests, and GWM Hydrogen supplied a truck for research, development, and innovation activities. According to those behind the initiative, the new center demonstrates that Brazil possesses the technical capabilities to develop its own green hydrogen technologies, thereby strengthening the domestic industry, boosting international competitiveness, and positioning Bahia as a key innovation hub for the energy transition in Latin America.