UNIFEI (Federal University of Itajubá), located in the south of Minas Gerais, was selected by GIZ (German International Cooperation Agency) to receive €5 million (around R$30 million) for the construction of a Production and Green Hydrogen Research (CPPHV).
The announcement was made by the university last Friday (29). “With the construction of CPPHV, UNIFEI will become a pioneering university in sustainable energy development on a global scale […] The construction of a center focused on the production and study of technologies involving hydrogen places the UNIFEI as a global reference in the area”, informed the university in a press release.
With an installed capacity of 1 MW and construction expected to be completed at the end of 2023, the Center will be supplied exclusively by electrical energy generated from renewable sources.
Also according to UNIFEI, the CPPHV will have several high-standard resources, such as an electrolyzer, storage tank and fuel cell to promote the development of research with industry partners and business incubation, aiming to disseminate the use of hydrogen.
“This initiative is in line with the initial purposes of the founding of our UNIFEI, in 1913, establishing energy sustainability as its main thrust. It is an intangible capital built over a hundred years ago that cannot, in any way, be ignored. This is the brand of UNIFEI”, said professor Edson Bortoni, the rector of UNIFEI.
Partnerships
The Center’s construction and development project included several partnerships with organizations. According to volunteer professor Jamil Haddad, there are already several companies interested in participating in the project.
“We already have the interest shown by CEMIG in dealing with energy storage and peak shaving, and by the Amaggi Group in the development of fertilizers. Memorandums of understanding were signed with FIAT Stellantis for the use of green steel, with engine manufacturers MWM and AVL for fuel conversion, in addition to urban mobility with the use of hydrogen-powered school buses with the City of Itajubá”, highlighted.
“Meetings were also held with Vale Energia to use green hydrogen in off-road vehicles, trains and steelmaking. ThyssenKrupp, headed by our former student Paulo Alvarenga, will contribute significantly with technological support. In this list, contributions from MAHLE, PS Soluções, FAPEPE (Itajubá Teaching, Research and Extension Support Foundation) and INOVAI (Itajubense Association for Innovation and Entrepreneurship), among others, no less important, should be included.”
“Naturally, every researcher at our university is free to work in the various branches of science that they find particularly interesting. However, if in some way, some of your research can touch on the energy issue, you will undoubtedly be able to make use of this intangible capital to facilitate obtaining resources and catapult your research”, adds the Vice-Rector of UNIFEI, Professor Ancelotti.
Answers of 2
Fantastic!!!
I am proud that my son Davi José Souza Ferreira is studying Mechanical Engineering at Unifei.
UNIFEI being recognized by Germany. Congratulations son Davi Fébba for having graduated and mastered in Physics, and, on 09/12/2021, he will present his doctoral thesis on Renewable Energy (photovoltaics).