Green Hydrogen: Ceará Becomes Brazil’s Most Strategic Energy Transition Hub

Brazil is quietly but decisively repositioning itself for the global energy transition, and Ceará has emerged as the centerpiece of this strategy. At the Port of Pecém, the country is backing a US$ 33,1 million green hydrogen (H2V) investment, placing the Northeast of Brazil at the forefront of one of the most competitive and capital-intensive energy markets of the coming decades.

While other regions host smaller or more experimental initiatives, the Pecém project stands out for its scale, logistics and export-oriented design, signaling Brazil government's ambition.

The H2Mover-Pecém is an advanced and environmentally friendly hydrogen project that has managed to get R$ 33.1 million through the highly regarded Northeast Call of Nova Indústria Brasil. This considerable sum is planned to be spent on a project that will ultimately transform heavy transport in Brazil, where the first step will be in the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP) in Ceará.

The main aim of the project is to decarbonize the heavy mobility segment, which is still largely untouched and difficult, in Brazil. H2Mover-Pecém is an alliance of several companies, with Grupo Cordeiro as the leading player, and Grupo Unilink Transportes and the AECIPP as partners. The plan is based on a shared infrastructure that is the key to its operation. It will have a stationary pilot plant that is capable of producing up to 100 kilograms of green hydrogen per day, and this will include integrated compression and storage systems. The immediate practical use of the project is further supported by the establishment of a mobile refueling unit, which will be dedicated to heavy vehicles working in the complex, thus making it an integral part of the project.

The first fleet of operational equipment will be a showcase of new technology, consisting of five units, among which are vehicles with hydrogen engines (H2-ICE) and electric vehicles powered by fuel cells (FCEV). A very advanced digital platform made in partnership with the Federal Institute of Ceará (IFCE) will also come into play in monitoring the operational quality, the amount of energy consumed, light emissions that would have occurred and thus avoided.

The H2Mover-Pecém has set itself a 36-month technological development schedule which is clear and intended to be executed in the most efficient manner possible. It is expected that the first vehicles will start operating in 2028 and the transition to the commercial phase will be in 2029. The whole project is built in such a way that it can easily be taken to other areas, not just Pecém, and nationwide highways and logistic corridors can then benefit from it. The whole thing is a win-win; H2Mover-Pecém becomes an essential component of the upcoming Green Hydrogen Hub of Ceará, being a supplier of the real hydrogen consumption, power independence of the CIPP, and ultimately boosting the local job market.

Why the Port of Pecém Matters

The Port of Pecém is widely regarded as one of the most promising green hydrogen hubs in Latin America. Its advantages include:

• Direct access to deep-water port infrastructure, suitable for large-scale exports
• Proximity to renewable energy sources, particularly wind and solar
• Strategic positioning for shipping routes to Europe and Asia, two of the largest future hydrogen markets

By participating in a US$ 33 million hydrogen initiative at Pecém, Petrobras is aligning itself with international decarbonization agendas and signaling readiness to compete in a market expected to attract hundreds of billions of dollars globally over the next decades.

A Strategic Bet on the Energy Transition

The hydrogen project in Ceará for Petrobras is not just a matter of symbolism, in fact, it is a matter of strategy. Green hydrogen is more and more perceived as a crucial solution for the decarbonization of difficult-to-abate sectors such as steel, chemicals, shipping, and aviation. With its hydrogen ambitions rooted in Pecém, Brazil, and  companies like Petrobras, obtains:

• Early access to a rapidly growing global market
• A base for collaborating with international partners
• An avenue for enhancing its portfolio of non-fossil fuel products

This step, for example, could strengthens Petrobras' story of moving from an oil producer to a wider energy company.

Ceará as a Gateway to Brazil’s Hydrogen Future

The emphasis on Ceará reflects a broader shift in Brazil’s energy geography. With modern infrastructure, renewable abundance and global connectivity, the state is fast becoming Brazil’s primary gateway to the hydrogen economy.

The message is clear: the future of energy diversification is being built in the Northeast of Brazil, and it starts at Pecém.