On Tuesday evening, Belgium and Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the sidelines of the reception for the Belgian delegation at the UN climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on cooperation in green hydrogen. Green hydrogen, generated in Brazil, will flow to Belgium in the future, and Belgium will, in turn, use its know-how in Brazil.

Brazil is seen as having excellent conditions for large-scale green hydrogen production, while Belgium has strong industrial hydrogen demand and wants to act as an import or transit hub.

Gateway for hydrogen

Belgium’s ports, like the Port of Antwerp‑Bruges, and its infrastructure position it well to act as a gateway for hydrogen and derivatives into Europe. The Brazil deal helps strengthen that role. The deal may open jobs, investment, and innovation in hydrogen technologies in Belgium.

Using green hydrogen supports Belgium’s and Europe’s ambition to decarbonize more difficult sectors. It will help Belgium better align with its climate commitments by providing access to low-carbon molecules from abroad.

Task force

The MOU, which is valid for three years and can be extended by mutual agreement, builds on a previous Letter of Intent (LoI) in May of this year, drawn up and signed by the Belgian Hydrogen Council, Flanders Investment and Trade (FIT), and the Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Hidrogênio Verde (ABIHV).

The three parties will establish a task force to explore the possibilities for a supply chain for green hydrogen and its derivatives between the two countries. They also plan to exchange expertise and best practices.

Green hydrogen is produced using sustainably generated electricity. This makes it a more sustainable alternative to fuel for ships or industrial and chemical processes