Just over a year ago, a group of companies that participate in the hydrogen industrial chain founded the Mexican Hydrogen Association (AMH2); these companies are already developing green hydrogen projects in various parts of the world.
The foundation has a very clear objective: to detonate the green hydrogen industry in Mexico.
Within the actions to achieve this objective, the Association presented a few days ago a Roadmap to efficiently detonate the green hydrogen industry in the country.
Companies, non-governmental organizations, academics and some authorities participated in its preparation, with the coordination of PwC.
What is sought with this Roadmap is to trace the path for industrial decarbonization in Mexico, using green hydrogen as the energy vector that will achieve this goal.
It should be remembered that Mexico has made an international commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 22% by 2030, also to generate 35% of electricity with clean energy by 2024, and to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda.
From the Association we believe that using green hydrogen could contribute to the fulfillment of these goals and objectives.
The preparation of the Roadmap was based on an analysis and diagnosis of the current situation, interviews and surveys were carried out with key actors in the country’s energy transition, and workshops were held in which different stakeholders.
In this way, interesting conclusions were reached. For example, the Roadmap estimates investment of approximately 59 billion dollars between 2025 and 2050, as well as the creation of around 3 million jobs in the green hydrogen industry in the same period.
The use of green hydrogen, as an energy substitute in industries such as Petrochemical, Metallurgical, Chemical, Mining, Cement, Automotive, Transport and Food, among others, could have great positive impacts in reducing emissions and in compliance with environmental standards. , Social and Governance (ESG).
Similarly, it is expected that environmental regulations will tighten due to the limited progress in the fight against climate change, as well as the imposition of green tariffs by governments and corporations.
Also in terms of mobility, it could contribute to reducing noise pollution and emissions, by putting hydrogen buses into circulation in the main cities of Mexico that are highly polluted.
Finally, Mexico could be a world power in the production and export of green hydrogen, in the manufacture of electrolyzers (which are the equipment that produces green hydrogen), in the manufacture of hydrogen fuel cells for different transport vehicles, as well as in the manufacture of equipment (valves, ducts, turbines) related to said industries.
The opportunity is in front of us. We just have to take it.
Israel Hurtado is president of the Mexican Hydrogen Association and a specialist in energy transition issues.