GREEN HYDROGEN IN THE CONTEXT OF ENERGY TRANSITION: a development alternative for Rio Grande do Norte?
Energy transition; Renewable energy; Regional development; Green hydrogen; Rio Grande do Norte.
The subject of energy transition and the internal energy security of countries around the world has generated a rush towards the production of renewable energy as a simultaneous response to the risks of the climate crisis and the need for universal access to energy on a global scale. Following the rapid expansion of wind and solar energy over the past two decades, the production of green hydrogen presents both a challenge and an opportunity, since it is a different renewable source, this time with storage and transportation potential. The proposed debate addresses the latest concerns in international organizations’ forums, such as the General Assemblies of the United Nations – UN, their Conferences, and Resolutions regarding environmental protection worldwide and the right to development for present and future generations. This work analyzes the process of incorporating green hydrogen production in the context of energy transition and regional development. Its general goal is to analyze how Rio Grande do Norte can potentially integrate the energy and climate agenda as one of the green hydrogen production hubs. The specific objectives are: to situate the international debate on low-carbon energy with a focus on green hydrogen; to analyze the Brazilian context regarding the production of renewable energy and green hydrogen; to highlight the key actors in the process; to investigate the internal demand for green hydrogen in Brazil and it’s Northeastern region; to verify the existence of strategies, roadmaps, and regulations in Rio Grande do Norte for producing green hydrogen; and to propose pathways to achieve development through green hydrogen production. The proposed research begins with a literature review based on both international and national literature on the subject, encompassing academic production and consulting official documents related to the institutional policy of the energy sector in Brazil and the relevant legislation. The next phase involves conducting interviews with institutional actors in Rio Grande do Norte linked to the planning and implementation of green hydrogen. The methodology involves both quantitative and qualitative research, using a case study approach on green hydrogen production in Rio Grande do Norte.