In October 2025, Curitiba consolidated its position as a strategic hub in the renewable hydrogen economy by inaugurating Brazil's first pilot plant dedicated to producing this fuel without consuming potable water. The Biogas-to-H2 Paraná project, located on the Polytechnic Campus of the Federal University of Paraná, represents a significant technical advancement in the context of the national energy transition, combining technological innovation with the utilization of organic waste.
The transformation of a productive paradigm
Brazil has accumulated more than R$ 290 billion in low-emission hydrogen projects announced in 18 states, according to recent data from the Ministry of Mines and Energy. In this scenario of accelerated growth, the Paraná plant stands out for using dry catalytic reforming, a process that completely eliminates water in the conversion system. Traditionally, water electrolysis with renewable energy is the predominant method for producing green hydrogen, but the Curitiba approach offers a technically viable alternative in regions with water limitations.
The consortium, led by Copel Geração e Transmissão, brings together public, private, and research institutions, including Sanepar, Compagas, CIBiogás, and the Senai Institute for Innovation in Electrochemistry. The project received an investment of R$ 7.6 million and was selected from among 70 proposals submitted to Copel's public call in 2023, subsequently being incorporated into the five strategic projects of the Industry Decarbonization Climate Funds investment plan.
Technology and process: from organic matter to hydrogen
The plant operates through an integrated cycle that begins with food waste from the UFPR University Restaurant. The organic material undergoes anaerobic biodigestion in four sequential stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis, producing biogas composed mainly of methane and carbon dioxide.
Dry reforming involves converting greenhouse gases at temperatures between 650°C and 850°C using specialized catalysts. In this process, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide are converted into synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Subsequently, advanced PSA purification systems selectively separate the hydrogen by pressure differences, followed by storage and final conversion into electricity through fuel cells.
Choosing dry reforming offers significant operational advantages. Unlike conventional routes that use steam reforming, this method does not require prior removal of carbon dioxide from biogas, allowing both components to be converted simultaneously. This characteristic reduces pretreatment costs and simplifies the production chain, critical aspects for economic viability on an industrial scale.
Scalability and replication potential
The plant's initial capacity is designed for 100 tons of renewable hydrogen per year. However, the existing infrastructure in Paraná offers significant expansion potential. Sanepar operates 232 treatment plants with anaerobic systems, generating approximately 62,225 Nm³ of biogas daily. When projected onto all this infrastructure, the state's potential reaches 7,000 tons of renewable hydrogen per year, consolidating the Curitiba Metropolitan Region as a center of reference in this segment.
The project incorporates carbon capture systems, projecting mitigation of up to 325,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year and generating carbon credits. This mechanism allows for achieving negative emissions when integrated with the capture of CO₂ released in the process. A blockchain-based certification system, already under development by Copel, will guarantee traceability and transparency for the hydrogen produced.
Strategic applications and economic impact
The low-emission hydrogen produced will be destined for industrial applications in the regional ecosystem. Curitiba is home to Peróxidos do Brasil, which produces 250,000 tons of hydrogen peroxide annually, accounting for 60% of Latin American demand. This proximity between production and consumption reduces logistical costs and makes the local production chain commercially viable.
Renewable hydrogen has great potential for industries that are difficult to electrify, such as steelmaking and the chemical sector, where it can replace carbon-intensive processes. In addition to fuel, the system generates high-quality biofertilizers through the digestate produced in anaerobic biodigestion, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and closing the cycles of waste utilization.
Alignment with national regulatory frameworks and policies
Law 14.948/2024 established the Legal Framework for Hydrogen in Brazil, differentiating between low-emission, renewable, and green hydrogen, with criteria based on greenhouse gas emissions and energy sources used. The Paraná project qualifies as renewable hydrogen, produced exclusively from renewable energy sources such as biomass.
Alignment with the National Hydrogen Program strengthens the project's position as a technological validation laboratory for industrial-scale replication. The institutional expectation is that new plants will be installed in different regions in the coming years, expanding national capacity and consolidating Brazil's leadership in the global energy transition.
Perspectives and challenges for the sector
Brazil has the potential to lead in green hydrogen production, but still faces bottlenecks in regulation and investment incentives. The Curitiba plant demonstrates that alternative routes to water electrolysis are technically viable and economically promising, especially when integrated with existing waste treatment and sanitation infrastructures.
The initiative represents a convergence between environmental challenges and economic opportunities. By transforming waste that would otherwise be disposed of in landfills into a high-value-added energy vector, the project exemplifies circular economy principles applied to the energy transition. The presence of research institutions, companies, and government agencies in the consortium creates an ecosystem conducive to continuous innovation and technology transfer.
For B2B companies, the project signals the maturation of alternative renewable hydrogen production technologies and opens up prospects for strategic partnerships across the entire value chain, from the supply of equipment and catalysts to industrial applications and the development of logistics infrastructure.
