Brazil's Copel gets 71 bids in biomass, bio-waste hydrogen R&D tender

Brazilian power utility Companhia Paranaense de Energia (BVMF:CPLE6), better known as Copel, has registered 71 proposals for research and development (R&D) on new technologies for the production and handling of low-carbon hydrogen obtained from biomass, biogas and other organic waste streams.

The utility will grant up to BRL 7.6 million (USD 1.45m/EUR 1.35m) to selected R&D schemes.

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As many as 53 companies and research institutions from 17 Brazilian states submitted proposals during the public call that ended last month. Copel will announce the winners by the end of May.

According to the company, the proposals should focus on at least one of the following four themes -- the development of methodology for low-carbon hydrogen production; innovative solutions for the logistics and hydrogen distribution; hydrogen storage solutions and the search for solutions for new applications and uses of low-carbon hydrogen.

Copel noted contracts will be signed for a maximum period of 48 months.

(BRL 1.0 = USD 0.191/EUR 0.178)