en.Wedoany.com Reported - Petrobras and the Brazilian Innovation Agency (Finep) jointly issued a tender notice on June 16, 2026, to develop industrial-scale electrolyzers in Brazil. The launch ceremony was held at the state-owned company's headquarters, attended by Brazil's Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, and Petrobras President Magda Chambriard. The tender will provide 150 million reais in non-reimbursable funding, half from Finep and half from Petrobras' research, development, and innovation (R&D,I) resources, with participating companies also required to provide matching funds.
Petrobras stated that although there are electrolyzer manufacturers in Brazil, no company has yet been able to domesticate the "Stack"—the key component responsible for converting water into hydrogen. Minister Luciana Santos emphasized that this initiative reinforces the commitment of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the federal government to strategic technologies needed for reindustrialization, sustainable development, and national sovereignty, aiming to jointly strengthen an important technology chain, support domestic industry, reduce costs, and prepare the country for future challenges.
The initiative aims to expand domestic equipment production and reduce costs associated with low-carbon hydrogen generation. The tender stipulates a minimum domestic content rate of 50% and allows for solutions based on existing technologies, provided they outperform currently available alternatives in measurable technical progress.
President Magda Chambriard noted that low-carbon hydrogen is one of the most concrete levers for decarbonization, requiring enhanced scientific development to make it viable, thereby making industries such as steel, chemicals, and refining more sustainable. She emphasized that the cost of producing hydrogen through electrolysis remains high, and reducing this cost is a core objective. Brazil is well-positioned to lead this agenda, and Petrobras is advancing and committed to a just energy transition.
The funding will be used for a structural project involving a network of partners, including at least three companies engaged in technology development and one science and technology institution (ICT).
Petrobras' Director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation, Renata Baruzzi, explained that the goal is to reduce dependence on external technology, thereby lowering the cost of hydrogen—a major barrier to its large-scale application. The development work should cover the entire process from basic engineering to pre-commercial prototypes.
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