by Erika Yamamoto – USP Journal

The station will be capable of refueling three buses and one Toyota vehicle that will circulate in University City.

University City will host the world’s first experimental renewable hydrogen refueling station from ethanol. The pilot plant will occupy an area of 425 square meters and will have the capacity to produce 4.5 kilograms of hydrogen per hour, enough to refuel up to three buses and a light vehicle. The experimental station is expected to be operational in the second half of 2024.

The inauguration ceremony of the hydrogen refueling station plant took place on Thursday, August 10th, at the Polytechnic School – Photo: Cecília Bastos/USP Images.

“For years, USP has made a significant effort to integrate innovation into its agenda and to be present in all its environments. The current moment is very conducive, and the importance of the interaction between the government, companies, universities, entrepreneurs, and venture capital funding agencies to generate knowledge and innovation, transforming Brazil into a more inclusive, economically, socially, and environmentally developed country, is becoming increasingly clear,” said Rector Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior at the ceremony marking the launch of the pilot plant of the station, held on Thursday, August 10, in the auditorium of the Mechanical Engineering building at the Polytechnic School (Poli).

The initiative emerges as a low-carbon solution for heavy transportation, including trucks and buses. Vehicles will stop using diesel and traditional internal combustion engines to begin using hydrogen produced from ethanol and engines equipped with fuel cells.

The hydrogen produced at the station will refuel the buses provided by the Metropolitan Company of Urban Transport of São Paulo (EMTU), which will circulate exclusively within University City, as well as a Mirai vehicle provided by Toyota Brazil to test the performance of hydrogen.

“I am very proud to know that the world’s first reformer capable of transforming ethanol into hydrogen, on this scale, is being built here in Brazil, in São Paulo, at USP. It is a significant leadership role for the State of São Paulo, and we have everything to lead the energy transition process, reducing the carbon footprint, being an example of sustainability and circular economy for the world,” said Governor Tarcísio de Freitas.

The President of the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp), Marco Antonio Zago, emphasized that “science has its time. This project started about 10 years ago, and only now are the first relevant innovative results emerging. To provide financial support for promising long-term projects like this, it is essential that funding agencies have stability over time. Interestingly, in Brazil, only Fapesp has this condition guaranteed by legislation and constant support from the state government.”

“With this initiative, we are not just talking about sustainability; we are demonstrating how sustainability is present in our actions in a broader way, extending beyond the environmental aspect to include social aspects and economic viability,” reiterated the State Secretary of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Vahan Agopyan.

Also present at the ceremony were the technical director of the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas, and Biofuels (ANP), Daniel Maia Vieira; the President of Shell Brazil, Cristiano Pinto da Costa; the CEO of Raízen, Ricardo Mussa; the President of Toyota Brazil, Rafael Chang; the CEO of Hytron, Marcelo Veneroso, and representatives from participating companies, the state government, and the university.

Transforming Ethanol into Hydrogen

The refueling station is the result of a research project developed by the Research Center for Innovation in Greenhouse Gases (RCGI) at the Polytechnic School (Poli), in partnership with Shell Brazil, Raízen, Hytron, Senai Cetiqt, and Toyota.

Hydrogen-powered bus. Photo: Cecilia Bastos / USP Images.

Among the equipment to be installed in the station, there will be a steam reformer capable of converting ethanol into hydrogen through a chemical process known as “steam reforming,” which occurs when ethanol, subjected to specific temperatures and pressures, reacts with water inside a reactor.

“Shell is the private company that invests the most in research and development in Brazil, and this project aligns perfectly with Shell’s global strategy, which is committed to investing in research in the field of renewable energy and low-carbon intensity fuels. I am certain that by combining strong institutions with technical knowledge and the creative capacity of Brazilians, we are destined for success,” said the President of Shell Brazil, Cristiano da Costa.

Throughout the operation of the experimental station, researchers will validate calculations regarding emissions and production costs of the hydrogen production process.

According to Julio Meneghini, the General Director of RCGI, “Brazil has the potential to become one of the world leaders in renewable fuel research due to our ability to combine agriculture, energy, and engineering – areas of knowledge that will become increasingly important in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.”

Located at the Polytechnic School (Poli), RCGI is an engineering research center that conducts research focused on the sustainable use of natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, carbon management, transportation, storage, and utilization.