Press Release 

Brussels & Santiago de Chile

21 November 2024  

Hydrogen Europe and H2Chile have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the European Hydrogen Week, under the patronage of the Chilean Embassy to the European Union and the European Commission, and in presence of industry stakeholders from both the European Union and Chile. The MoU confirms the commitment between the two associations to work together for the deployment of the hydrogen sector and to collaborate on the development of trade opportunities across both regions. With this initiative the two organisations expect to grow the long-standing cooperation between the European Commission and the Government of Chile and strengthen economic links in the hydrogen sector.

The partnership will facilitate industry-to-industry and public-private exchanges between the European Union and Chile, with a view to strengthening cooperation on regulatory frameworks, trade and financing, and to exchange best practices on R&I, skills and value creation among others. While key COP negotiations are taking place on the future of climate financing, the collaboration also seeks to advance the role of hydrogen for decarbonisation in global climate and energy negotiations.

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe stated: “Today’s MoU is a tangible contribution of the hydrogen industry to the deployment of clean energy technologies and value chains that are becoming increasingly important in the EU and Chile and are opening new opportunities for investments and trades. I am convinced that this cooperation will help address the challenges the sector, thus strengthening our economic ties and promoting clean hydrogen trade globally.”

Marcos Kulka, Executive Director of H2Chile said: “Europe is a leading market in the move toward climate solutions, especially in hydrogen and low- or zero-emission derivatives. With this agreement, H2 Chile continues to drive the development of this key industry to reduce hard-to-abate emissions. Hydrogen Europe is an important player on the continent for collaboration on issues like regulation, standards, promoting international demand, investments, and early-stage financing. Chile is a key country for global decarbonization and a competitive supplier of ammonia with a green value chain.”

Felix Fernandez-Shaw, LAC Director, European Commission mentionned: “Chile is leading Latin America’s hydrogen development, paving the way for the decarbonization and green industrialization of economies across the region. We are happy to support this MoU to strengthen hydrogen business cooperation between Chile and the European Union and accelerate the hydrogen market from start up to scale up”

HE Gloria Navarrete, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Chile to the European Union concluded: “Today’s signature of the MoU between Hydrogen Europe and H2 Chile is an important and timely milestone in the long-term road to developing the hydrogen industry in Chile and Europe. Through concrete actions, it shows the spirit that sustains the bilateral relationship: collaboration, exchange of good practices, and working together in the hydrogen sector for a sustainable future. This vision was also materialized in the new Advanced Framework Agreement (AFA) Chile-EU, which contains a dedicated chapter on Energy and Raw Materials that aims to support Chile in developing our green economy, particularly concerning renewable energy and hydrogen.”

***

Hydrogen Europe is the European association representing the interest of the hydrogen industry and its stakeholders and promoting hydrogen as an enabler of a zero-emission society. With 600+ members, including 40+ EU regions and 30+ national associations, we encompass the entire value chain of the European hydrogen and fuel cell ecosystem. Our vision is to propel global carbon neutrality by accelerating European hydrogen industry.

The Chilean Hydrogen Association (H2 Chile) is a non-profit trade organization that aims to promote zero-emissions development by accelerating the adoption of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives in our society. It fosters collaboration between public, private, and academic entities interested in helping make this new industry a reality in the country. The association has become a platform to drive the energy transition and help position Chile as a leader in the production and use of hydrogen for industrial, commercial, and mobility applications.
Currently, H2 Chile has about 140 members (40 professionals and 100 companies) from the public, private, and academic sectors, covering the entire value chain of renewable hydrogen in the country.