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State-Owned Petrobras Bets On Five Photovoltaic Solar Energy Projects To Transform Gray Hydrogen Into Green And Reduce Emissions At Refineries.
Petrobras announced that it is in an advanced stage of study for the implementation of five solar energy generation projects, focusing on decarbonizing its operations, especially at its refining units.
According to the company’s president, Magda Chambriard, the solar plants will be directed towards self-consumption and represent a strategy to transform gray hydrogen — currently used at refineries — into green hydrogen, which is considered more sustainable.
“These are photovoltaic panels that will transform the gray hydrogen from our refineries into green hydrogen. There are five projects in our portfolio that will be carried out and have already proven to be advantageous,” stated the executive during a press conference held on May 13.
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Internal Consumption Strategy Guarantees Synergy And Profitability
The focus on internal consumption is a competitive differentiator, according to the company’s management. The president emphasized that, just like the oil and gas exploration projects, the initiatives in renewable sources also undergo stringent analysis of robustness in adverse scenarios.
The idea is to ensure that investments in solar and wind energy have economic viability and contribute to the state-owned company’s energy security.
“What we are seeing is that very likely the solar and wind projects will increasingly be directed towards our own consumption. And for that reason, they benefit from the synergies of the Petrobras system and have proven to be profitable so far,” explained Chambriard.
Participation In Auction Reinforces Petrobras’ Expansion Plan
In addition to the investments in solar energy, Petrobras confirmed that it will participate in the capacity reserve auction (LRCAP) with a proposal of 3.9 gigawatts (GW), covering nine existing plants and two new facilities.
These new plants are expected to be built at the Boaventura Energy Complex, formerly Comperj (or Gaslub), located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, with a capacity of 400 megawatts (MW) each.
“We have already registered [the plants in the auction]. The auction has been postponed, and we will register again,” declared Mauricio Tolmasquim, director of Energy Transition and Sustainability at Petrobras.
“We have high expectations for this auction. It is very important for the country because it brings security. And, of course, for us, Petrobras, as well, because we need our thermal plants to be compensated so that we can keep them contributing to the country.”
Energy Transition Consolidates As A Strategic Pillar
With these moves, Petrobras reinforces its role in the energy transition, diversifying its matrix and betting on solar energy as a vector for sustainability and operational efficiency.
The projects under study are part of a broader plan by the company to modernize its infrastructure, reduce emissions, and ensure greater energy autonomy, while maintaining profitability and synergy with existing operations.
These actions strategically position Petrobras in the face of the global decarbonization challenge, aligning economic growth with environmental responsibility.
