The University of São Paulo (USP) has taken a pioneering step by opening the world’s first renewable hydrogen production plant from ethanol. The plant, located on the Butantã campus in the capital of São Paulo, was announced by Rector Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior during the Energy Transition Research and Innovation Conference (ETRI) 2024, promoted by the Center for Research on Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI). With support from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and Shell, the project involves technological innovation and sustainability, proposing a model that can transform the energy sector and reduce Brazil’s carbon footprint.
The hydrogen produced will be used to fuel three city buses that will run on the USP campus and a highway bus, with a range of up to 450 kilometers. For RCGI director Julio Meneghini, the pilot plant offers a viable and sustainable model that can lead to a low-carbon economy in public transportation.
Innovative Technology: Conversion of Hydrogen from Ethanol
The plant uses hydrogen conversion technology from ethanol developed by São Paulo startup Hytron, with support from FAPESP's Innovative Research in Small Businesses Program (PIPE). The process takes place in a reactor called a reformer, in which ethanol and water are heated to 750°C, resulting in the breakdown of ethanol molecules and the production of hydrogen and biogenic carbon monoxide. Each kilogram of hydrogen generated consumes approximately seven liters of ethanol, and production uses 2.5 kWh of electrical energy to keep the systems running.
The hydrogen generated undergoes a purification process in cylinders, where CO, CO₂ and methane residues are eliminated, until it reaches the required purity of 99.999% for use in buses and in the Toyota Mirai car, provided for testing. This vehicle, which operates on a fuel cell, converts hydrogen and oxygen into electricity to power its engine, standing out as the first mass-market car to operate entirely on hydrogen.
An Important Step in the Energy Transition and Combating Climate Change
In addition to the technological advancement, the USP project is in line with global commitments to reduce carbon emissions. During ETRI 2024, Karen Mascarenhas, the event coordinator, highlighted that the objective of the conference was to unite efforts from academia, industry and government to promote a sustainable and equitable energy transition. Marco Antonio Zago, president of FAPESP, also emphasized the importance of the project and the institution's commitment to the environmental agenda, highlighting initiatives such as the strategic programs BIOTA, BIOEN and the FAPESP Research Program on Global Climate Change (PFPMCG), which have been seeking solutions to the climate emergency for more than two decades.
This USP project, by combining a renewable energy source with advanced purification technology, offers a promising path for the implementation of hydrogen solutions in Brazil. More than a breakthrough for the university, the hydrogen-to-ethanol conversion plant could transform the country's fuel industry , taking it to a leading position in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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