In Santiago, Chile, the official results of the project “Strengthening Latin America’s Capacities to Meet International Standards for the Certification of Low- or Zero-Emission Hydrogen and its Derivatives for Export Purposes” were presented. The initiative was carried out by the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), in cooperation with the Chilean Agency for International Development Cooperation (AGCID) and the European Union.
Launched in January 2025, the project’s main objective was to propose actions that enable hydrogen produced in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Panama to meet international requirements, thereby facilitating its entry into global markets—particularly the European market, where demand for low-emission fuels continues to grow.
The event featured remarks from Enrique O’Farril, Director of AGCID, and Andrés Rebolledo, Executive Secretary of OLACDE. Both highlighted the importance of triangular cooperation as a powerful mechanism to strengthen capacities, promote knowledge exchange, and advance sustainable development across the region. They also emphasized the strategic role of green hydrogen in the energy transition, noting that Latin America and the Caribbean possesses significant comparative advantages to position itself as a global supplier in an emerging market that requires certification and traceability of low-emission products.
During the session, the project’s consulting team presented the main advances and findings achieved throughout its implementation. Working with the four pilot countries, the initiative developed proposals for national certification systems, regional recommendations aligned with international standards, and a virtual platform to simulate compliance with technical requirements demanded by global markets.
Key results include a regional and national diagnosis of the hydrogen industry and its roadmaps; the design of certification schemes tailored to each country, incorporating technical, legal and institutional considerations; the identification of gaps and priority actions to strengthen capacities, define competent authorities, and ensure traceability and guarantees of origin; and a proposed roadmap outlining next steps for advancing certification and facilitating international market access, especially in Europe.
This joint effort will enable Latin America and the Caribbean to fully leverage their potential in the production and export of low-emission hydrogen, contributing to energy competitiveness, global decarbonization and the strategic positioning of the region within the rapidly growing green hydrogen market.
