The world's largest industrial innovation fair hosted, in April 2026, one of the most ambitious projects of Brazil's energy transition. The Pecém Complex brought its Green Hydrogen Hub to Hannover Messe 2026, a project that aims to transform the Ceará coast into a starting point for the export of clean molecules to Europe. The presence was not merely symbolic. With Brazil as an official partner country of the event, Pecém occupied the center of discussions on industrial decarbonization and opened direct negotiations with foreign investors.
What Pecém presented at the world's largest industrial fair.
Hannover Messe 2026 took place between April 20th and 24th and brought together approximately 4,000 companies from 60 countries, including Amazon Web Services, Bosch, Siemens, Microsoft, and Huawei. Brazil participated as an official partner country, with a delegation of over 300 companies and support from ApexBrasil. In the Brazilian space, dedicated to energy and industrial infrastructure, Pecém presented the competitive advantages of the hub that will be installed in the Ceará Export Processing Zone (ZPE Ceará).
The message conveyed to Germany was one of maturity. According to Fabio Grandchamp, Vice President of Operations at the Pecém Complex, the project already has pre-contracts, reserved land, and a defined schedule, placing it among the most advanced in the country. During the fair, the Ceará delegation met with approximately 20 international investors and participated in three panels about the hub and the logistics corridor connecting Ceará to Europe.
The seven pre-contracts that underpin the project.
The hub is reaching the decision-making phase supported by a robust portfolio. Seven pre-contracts have been signed, totaling approximately R$ 60 billion in planned investments. The companies are already paying rent for the areas reserved in the Ceará Export Processing Zone while they finalize the technical details of each plant.
| Company | Origin | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| Auren Energia (formerly AES Brasil) | Brazil | H2V and derivatives |
| Casa dos Ventos | Brazil | Green ammonia |
| EDF | France | Green hydrogen |
| Fortescue | Australia | H2V, the first to obtain a preliminary license. |
| FRV (Jameel Energy) | Spain | Green ammonia, H2 Cumbuco project |
| Voltalia | France | Green ammonia |
| Fuella AS | Norway | 400,000 tons/year of green ammonia |
Among the individual highlights, Fortescue projects approximately R$17.5 billion to produce 170,000 tons of green hydrogen per year starting in 2029. FRV estimates around R$27 billion for the H2 Cumbuco project, aimed at the European and Asian markets. Meanwhile, the Norwegian company Fuella AS, winner of the first auction of the European Hydrogen Bank, foresees R$9 billion for a plant with an annual capacity of 400,000 tons of green ammonia.
Production schedule and goals
The hub's timeline indicates a gradual progression from the planning phase to implementation. Final investment decisions are expected by the end of 2026, a milestone that converts pre-contracts into definitive contracts. The production target is significant: 1 million tons of green hydrogen per year by 2032, a volume capable of meeting up to 25% of the import demand of the Port of Rotterdam.
The main milestones can be summarized as follows:
- 2026, final investment decisions for the seven pre-contracts.
- 2029, delivery of the first green molecules to Europe.
- 2030, start of industrial-scale production.
- 2032, reaching the goal of 1 million tons per year.
The green corridor that connects Ceará to Europe.
Pecém's competitiveness cannot be explained solely by its production. The project relies on the Green Corridor, a logistics axis that connects the port in Ceará to the ports of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, and Duisport, in Germany. The route has been extended to the Port of Rostock, in northern Germany, also reaching countries on the Baltic Sea.
The pillars of this strategy include:
- Production is concentrated in the Ceará Export Processing Zone, supported by abundant wind and solar energy.
- Maritime transport of green ammonia and e-methanol to Europe.
- Receiving and distribution through the ports of Rotterdam and Duisport.
- Supplying green molecules to the European market by 2029.
During World Hydrogen 2026, held in Rotterdam, this cooperation was formalized in an agreement between Brazil and the European Union, with the presence of the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander.
What does the global showcase represent?
Pecém's participation in the Hannover Messe trade fair solidifies a shift in position. Ceará has gone from being merely a potential investment destination to becoming a central player in the industrial connection between Europe and Latin America. The combination of renewable energy sources, world-class port infrastructure, and clear export regulations creates a rare environment in the global hydrogen market.
The coming months will be crucial. The final investment decisions, scheduled for the end of 2026, will indicate how many of the seven projects will come to fruition and at what pace. For the electrolyzer and clean energy supply chain, Pecém serves as a barometer of what Brazil can deliver when it aligns ambition, capital, and logistics in the same territory.
