Chile, the European Union and Germany took a new step in their cooperation on renewable hydrogen, alternative clean fuels and Power-to-X, with a joint declaration that sought to move bilateral and European work from technical preparation to a stage closer to investment.
The agreement was signed by the Chilean Ministry of Energy, the European Commission and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and set as its next objective a new joint action called Team Europe for Renewable Hydrogen and Power-to-X Market Development and Investment Mobilisation in Chile .
The key was the change in focus. Between 2023 and 2026, the first phase of the RH2 initiative had concentrated on creating enabling conditions for the sector's development. The new phase aimed to structure, finance, and scale projects , as well as improve the preparedness of public and private stakeholders to attract capital.
During the previous phase, the program had worked on environmental assessment, financial advice, taxonomy and certification, as well as pilot projects related to clean mobility, environmental monitoring and renewable energy.
That previous work laid a foundation upon which the partners now sought to move forward with projects of greater commercial maturity.
From the rules and the pilots to the financial closing
The new joint action included technical assistance, capacity building and direct support for project development, with the aim of improving their readiness for investment.
It also included technology and knowledge transfer, market access, and cooperation between Chilean, European, and especially German actors.
The intention was to enable companies and developers to move from studies and regulatory frameworks to projects with clearer financial structures and a greater possibility of execution.
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Energy Minister Ximena Rincón summarized this leap by pointing out that the country already had a solid foundation and that the challenge now was to convert its renewable potential into projects, investment and employment.
The European Union's ambassador to Chile, Claudia Gintersdorfer , also focused on this point and stated that the next stage should translate into concrete investments and value chains capable of generating opportunities in both markets.
Germany seeks to gain ground in the value chain
German involvement added another dimension to the agreement.
The Parliamentary State Secretary of the BMWE, Stefan Rouenhoff , indicated that Germany would contribute technological knowledge, industrial experience and innovative technologies to help turn Chile's renewable potential into concrete projects.
This component revealed that the cooperation was not limited to institutional financing. It also sought to strengthen the presence of European and German companies within future value chains associated with renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.
Chile, for its part, sought to position itself not only as a potential producer, but also as a partner for energy chains linked to Europe.
The first phase had already worked on a certification system compatible with European standards , a particularly relevant point for projects that aspired to sell hydrogen or derivatives in those markets.
It had also supported the modernization of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) with specific tools and guidelines for this type of project, in addition to providing financial advice to large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia developments.