2024-09-13 06:24:35
Cartagena will host the 2nd Congress on Hydrogen and Energy Efficiency, where key aspects of the potential of this industry in Colombia will be discussed.
On October 17 and 18, Cartagena will host the II Hydrogen and Energy Efficiency Congress, a key event in which Colombia’s challenges and opportunities in hydrogen production will be discussed. The participation of 500 people is expected, including experts, speakers and exhibitors. Karen Peralta, executive director of the Hydrogen Chamber of ANDI and Naturgas, will lead the discussions on the challenges and strategies that the country must adopt to optimize this growing sector.
Peralta highlighted the importance of the congress, pointing out that the main objective is to give a practical and in-depth approach to hydrogen production. “We want to take the conversation to the next level,” he said, stressing that hydrogen is not only essential for sectors such as transport and industry, but also for the decarbonisation strategy led by the National Government.
Where to produce
One of the central themes of the event will be the identification of regions in Colombia that have the potential to become large-scale hydrogen production hubs. According to Peralta, the aim is to explore how these hubs can contribute to the export of hydrogen, positioning Colombia in the international market. In addition, practical cases from other countries that have already made progress in this field will be addressed, and opportunities for the development of projects in areas such as fertilizer production and transportation will be presented.
The congress agenda will feature the participation of senior government officials, such as the Minister of Mines, Andrés Camacho, and the Vice Minister of Energy, Javier Campillo, as well as representatives of governorates such as La Guajira and Antioquia. These leaders will present their regional strategies for decarbonization and the promotion of renewable energy. There will also be participation from multilateral banks, such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), who will discuss the financing and export of hydrogen from key ports such as Cartagena and Barranquilla.
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Cost optimization
One of the biggest challenges facing Colombia in this sector is optimizing production costs. Peralta explained that although the cost of production was initially expected to reach US$1.7 per kilogram of hydrogen by 2030, this figure is now projected to double due to inflation and the cost of energy. “The message is clear: if there are alternative renewable energies, there will be competitive hydrogen,” he said.
In this context, the need to expand the country’s energy generation capacity will be discussed. Hydrogen production requires large energy surpluses, and Colombia’s current capacity is not sufficient to meet this demand. It is estimated that an additional 15 gigawatts will be needed, which implies developing solar and wind potential in regions such as La Guajira and Cesar.
The congress will also offer tours of hydrogen projects in Cartagena and networking sessions with experts and investment funds. In addition, a report on hydrogen will be launched, which will include an analysis of other industries with development potential in this field.
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