Global Infrastructure Sherpa

Corfo awards Colbún $6M for green hydrogen logistics ring between Santiago and Valparaíso

Type: Development · Technology: Hydrogen · Country: Chile · Capacity: 3 MW · Value: $13.7M · Announced: 2026-03-12

Chilean development agency Corfo awarded Colbún $6 million in financing for a $13.7 million green hydrogen logistics ring project connecting Santiago and Valparaíso. The project involves the construction and operation of a 3 MW electrolysis plant at the El Peñón distribution center in San Bernardo, with an estimated annual demand of 195 tons of green hydrogen over four years. This initiative aims to supply fuel cell forklifts and tractor-trailers for logistics operations to major ports in the Valparaíso region, replacing approximately 350,000 liters of diesel annually. Colbún will lead the project, with Marítima Valparaíso (Marval) as co-executor and Walmart Chile as an associated company and hydrogen consumer, with the remaining $7.7 million of the total investment contributed by the participating companies.

Analysis

The $13.7 million green hydrogen logistics ring between Santiago and Valparaíso represents a commercially driven decarbonization effort, underpinned by $6 million in financing from Chilean development agency Corfo. This project centers on a 3 MW electrolysis plant at the El Peñón distribution center in San Bernardo, designed to produce 195 tons of green hydrogen annually over four years. The commercial logic is clear: supplying fuel cell forklifts and tractor-trailers for logistics operations to major Valparaíso region ports, directly replacing approximately 350,000 liters of diesel each year. Colbún will lead the development, with Marítima Valparaíso (Marval) acting as co-executor, ensuring the operational integration of the hydrogen supply chain. Walmart Chile's commitment as an associated company and hydrogen consumer provides crucial off-take certainty, with the remaining $7.7 million of the total investment contributed by the participating private companies. Colbún, an energy generation company with approximately 4,000 MW of installed capacity, is strategically diversifying its portfolio into green hydrogen production and distribution through this project. Corfo's $6 million award aligns with its mandate to promote economic growth and innovation in Chilean infrastructure, directly supporting the nation's energy transition goals. Walmart Chile, a leading retail company and subsidiary of Walmart Inc., demonstrates its commitment to sustainable operations by securing green hydrogen for its logistics, replacing diesel in its supply chain. Marítima Valparaíso (Marval) brings over 30 years of experience in Chilean port and industrial infrastructure, ensuring the robust construction and operation of the logistics ring. This collaboration, announced on 2026-03-12, establishes a replicable public-private partnership model for early-stage green hydrogen adoption within Chile's critical logistics sector.

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Counterparties