The University's strategic partner, Petronas, was at PUCRS last month
Wednesday, April 30 | 2025
Last month, PUCRS’s Institute of Petroleum and Natural Resources (IPR) received a visit from Petronas Petróleo Brasil Ltda, a Brazilian subsidiary of the Malaysian state-owned company that operates in the oil and gas sector and is a reference in lubricants for various industries. PUCRS, through IPR, maintains a strategic partnership with Petronas for the development of five Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) projects in key areas defined by the National Council for Energy Policy (CNPE). The projects cover the areas of Hydrogen, CO₂ Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and sustainable technologies.
Representatives of the Malaysian company were present on the occasion, consisting of Suhana Sidik, Country Head of PETRONAS Brazil, Jonas Q. Castro, Head of Research Development and Innovation (RD&I), and Mônica Rodrigues, Head of Strategic Communications, the director of IPR, Felipe Dalla Vecchia, and the coordinator of the Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory and research leader, Victor Hugo dos Santos.
The director of the institute explains that the Low Carbon and Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory, which has two spaces, the Low Carbon Technologies Laboratory, opened in November 2024, and Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory, under implementation, The main objective is to strengthen and expand the infrastructure of the PUCRS Institute of Petroleum and Natural Resources. In this way, the technical and scientific capacity of the University is increased to meet the new demands of the government and society for the maturation of the emerging hydrogen and clean technology market.
“The new hydrogen technology laboratory will enable the development of solutions for the certification of hydrogen quality, aligned with international standards (ISO 14687) and laboratory excellence according to ISO/IEC 17025; the development of materials and technologies for the production, transport and storage of hydrogen and/or energy; research and innovation in low-carbon fuels, including biofuels. drop in and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF); expansion of the technical-analytical capacity of IPR-PUCRS, promoting advanced studies in the energy area and the provision of qualified services to society”, Explica.
In this sense, the new laboratory will also integrate research from other strategic projects, such as the production of biosurfactants (organic molecules produced by microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and yeast), biological capture of CO₂ with microalgae and development of Metal-CO₂ batteries, consolidating the laboratory as a reference center in Low Carbon and Hydrogen Technologies.
Read also PUCRS inaugurates the first equipment that directly captures CO₂ in Latin America
The laboratory will support the development of five R&D&I projects in partnership with Petronas Petróleo Brasil Ltda (PPBL), as well as future joint projects, ranging from the production of green hydrogen and sustainable fuels to CO₂ capture and utilization technologies. Check it out:
Green Hydrogen Project: aims to evaluate the production of green hydrogen for application in technologies Power-to-X of low-carbon fuel production, investigating technological integration and environmental performance in the context of CO₂ Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), contributing to decarbonization and sustainable energy transition.
Biosurfactants Project: explores the use of CO₂ as a carbon source for the production of biosurfactants, selecting the most suitable cultivation conditions and using genetic engineering as a possible tool for optimizing the production of bioproducts by microorganisms.
Metal-CO₂ Battery Project: develops and optimizes battery systems based on Metal-CO₂ reactions, aiming at the efficient accumulation of renewable energy, the use of captured CO₂ and the integration with Carbon Capture systems in the Oil & Gas (O&G) industry, strengthening decarbonization strategies.
Algae Project: investigates the biological capture of CO₂ through the cultivation of marine microalgae for biomass production and to evaluate its biotechnological potential, exploring applications in bioenergy, bioproducts and mitigation of carbon emissions.
H-TECH2 Project: aims to strengthen PUCRS' laboratory infrastructure and enable the implementation of the Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory, boosting scientific and technological advancement in the area. The project seeks to promote innovation, professional training and the creation of business opportunities for the hydrogen economy.
“These projects integrate several innovation fronts, consolidating IPR-PUCRS as a reference center in the development of technologies and solutions aimed at energy transition and industrial decarbonization.”, summarizes Felipe.
The new laboratory will directly contribute to the country’s energy transition and sustainable development. Advanced research in Green Hydrogen, CO₂ Capture and Utilization, and Energy Storage will help enable technologies that will help mitigate carbon emissions, make industrial processes more sustainable, and increase Brazil’s energy resilience. Felipe also highlights that the laboratory will act as an innovation hub for the emerging energy sector, offering support for the certification of hydrogen and sustainable fuels, which will strengthen Brazil’s competitiveness on the global stage.
“The initiative will also help reduce the risks associated with the implementation of new technologies and products, promoting confidence in the use of these innovative solutions. In this context, companies, industries, startups and society in general will have access to IPR-PUCRS’s accredited cutting-edge infrastructure, allowing them to validate new products and processes, in addition to improving their existing technologies. This will foster the emergence of new business models aligned with the growing demand for low-carbon solutions, facilitating the transition to a more sustainable and collaborative economy.”
The new laboratory will also assist in the training and qualification of specialized professionals, who will have access to cutting-edge infrastructure for research and development. With quality education, the new professionals will be ready to prepare the market for the adoption of emerging hydrogen, CCUS and renewable energy technologies, strengthening the country in the race for decarbonization and innovation in the energy sector.
The initiative has an innovative and integrated approach, which combines scientific research, accredited services of excellence, hydrogen quality certification according to ISO 14687 standards (an unprecedented competence in the country) and technological development. All of this within a single Brazilian Science and Technology Institution.
“The strategic partnership between IPR-PUCRS and PPBL will allow the laboratory to act as a catalyst for the implementation of hydrogen and sustainable fuel technologies, boosting both applied research and Brazil’s insertion in the global renewable energy market. Another highlight is the convergence of several research fronts within the same science and technology institute, ranging from hydrogen production to bioenergy solutions and new energy storage methods.”, says Philip.
The implementation of the Hydrogen Technologies Laboratory and the development of R&D&I projects between IPR-PUCRS and PPBL represent a milestone in the advancement of science and technology in the country, especially for Rio Grande do Sul. In addition, they exemplify how the university-business relationship can accelerate the transformation of emerging technologies into concrete solutions for real challenges facing society, such as the decarbonization of the energy matrix, the production of sustainable fuels and the creation of new regional economic opportunities.
The IPR director emphasizes that the state of RS is on the right track for the development of innovative solutions with a notable interest in creating sustainable solutions and establishing a hydrogen economic chain.
