American company MMEX Resources The corporation, together with the government of Tierra del Fuego, has announced a $ 500 million investment. Construction of wind power plant with a capacity of up to 300 MW (160 MW base) and An electrolysis plant that will be able to produce more than 55 tons of green hydrogen per day In the city of Rio Grande. The goal will be development 300 ton ammonia or methanol conversion unit For daily global exports, which will be carried out with its own maritime cargo infrastructure.

The project will be implemented under a technology contract that the company has signed Siemens Energy, A leading company in the production of electrolytic equipment that allows the transition to clean energy. At the moment, Company Siemens GamesaWhich is part of the group Siemens Energy, Conducts studies that allow accurate estimation of wind resources. After this phase, which can last from 90 to 120 days, it will be possible to more accurately determine the number of hectares needed to generate wind energy, which is what the project is looking for.

The installation of this plant was strategically conceived by MMEX, thanks to the all-natural conditions that unite the Rio Grande. From its location, which allows it to connect with the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and its potential access to various markets, to wind conditions that allow for optimal wind energy generation.

“Rio Grande has unique wind conditions in the world. Its location at sea makes it possible to think about global exports; Is a significant logistical advantage“, Explains Nabil Katabi, Project Financial Manager, MMEX Resources Corporation.

Since the 1990s, the American company has been evaluating energy infrastructure projects in the southern province, which also has other traditional natural resources such as gas and oil.

New bet

Through an ongoing project, MMEX is betting on green hydrogen production from renewable wind energy, which is a significant benefit to the province. The plant will be located in the Rio Grande district, Provides for the creation of 1,500 jobs during construction and up to 300 permanent skilled jobs; At the operations stage.

As for environmental care, basic guidelines should be defined before investing, including the study of bird migration routes and the use of water resources. Jack Hanks, President and CEO of MMEX Resources Corporation, explained this “The global focus on renewable energy and the need to reduce the planet’s carbon footprint is the cornerstone of the Tierra del Fuego strategy based on MMEX’s green hydrogen experience.”

The Provincial Government, which supports the development of the renewable energy industry, welcomed the initiatives that enable the sustainable use of the Tierra del Fuego’s resources and reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development, the environment, investment and employment.

Since 1989, in Texas and Peru, MMEX has built and operated thermal power plants, oil and gas pipelines, oil refineries and ethanol plants. He also explored and operated on oil and gas fields.

“MMEX, together with Siemens Energy, has just completed a detailed engineering design study for this project and its other projects to produce 55 tons of hydrogen per day in Texas. H2 can be converted to ammonia or methanol for global exports, ”explained Jack Hanks.

The CEO of MMEX added that a memorandum of understanding has been signed with Siemens Energy and Siemens Gamesa, one of the leaders in the production of wind towers, related to the implementation of this project. “This will make it possible to identify the required wind turbine and the land needed to build a 160-megawatt wind farm that supplies electricity to Siemens electrolyzers for hydrogen production.

What is green hydrogen

Also known as renewable hydrogen, green hydrogen, according to businessman Bill Gates in his book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (Spanish: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster) “The best innovation of recent years to combat the greenhouse effect.”

This energy source is produced by the electrolysis of water, which separates hydrogen from oxygen, using clean energy sources such as solar, wind or hydroelectric power.

The emergence of this material is due to the need to replace the energy sources most commonly used today, such as coal, oil and its derivatives, and natural gas, with renewable energy sources without carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Globally, more and more companies are trying to bet on this material, in the face of energy transitions and the use of renewable materials.