On August 22, CPFL Energia, which has been owned by the Chinese company State Grid since 2017, announced a partnership with Mizu Cimentos to launch a research and development (R&D) project at a factory in the municipality of Baraúna, in Rio Grande do Norte. The project involves the implementation of a pilot plant for the production of green hydrogen utilizing renewable energy. The hydrogen produced will be used in the production process at the Mizu Cimentos Factory.

The pilot plant is expected to begin operating by 2027 and was financed by the Research, Development and Innovation Program of ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency), with an investment of R$44 million from CPFL. The project aims not only to contribute to advances in technologies and studies in the hydrogen market, but also to play a leading role in decarbonizing the highly polluting cement industry.

Fátima Bezerra, Governor of Rio Grande do Norte, highlighted that State Grid's investment in green hydrogen technology projects will lead energy transformation in Northeast Brazil.

(Source: Exame, on August 22)