Walmart Chile to create first industrial green hydrogen plant in Latin America

The project developed collaboratively with the generating company Engie will mark $15 million investment in replacing lead-acid batteries.

Walmart Inc. CEO Doug McMillon attended the grand opening of a green hydrogen plant at Walmart’s Quilicura Distribution Center in Santiago, Chile, representing the company’s continued investment in and commitment to renewable energy. Industrial-scale and renewable, the project was developed collaboratively with the generating company Engie. Once converted, the plant is the first of its kind in Latin America and will play a key role in Walmart Chile’s path to net-zero emissions.

"We see tremendous potential for our business [and] want to expand the use of this technology to all distribution centres in the company's logistics network throughout the country, with the aim of operating 100% with green hydrogen by 2025,” said Barrientos.

In its first stage, the green hydrogen plant will allow the Quilicura Distribution Center to replace the lead-acid batteries of 200 forklift cranes with hydrogen energy cells, cutting 250 tons of toxic waste per year. Over the course of the 15-year project, Walmart expects it to reduce the release of CO2 into the atmosphere by 17,100 tons, the equivalent of planting 34,200 trees.

“Walmart first embraced the potential in hydrogen fuel in 2012, with a fleet of 50 vehicles and forklifts in the U.S., which we have since grown to over 9,500 forklifts. Now, with over a decade of experience and progress, Walmart is well-positioned to invest in Chile's potential as a producer of clean energy, including green hydrogen,” said McMillon.

The Chilean government has made renewable energy a priority, and as a result, Chilean solar- and wind-power sectors have increased their generation capacity fivefold over the last few years, with up to 70% of the country's electrical grid projected to be renewable-powered by 2030.