With the presence of the Minister of Energy, Ximena Rincón, the largest meeting of green hydrogen and clean energies in the region opened its doors in Metropolitan Santiago, marking the step from theoretical projections to the consolidation of businesses, concrete technological solutions and adding a new exhibition space to cover clean energies.
The Metropolitan Santiago Convention Center became the epicenter of energy discussions this Tuesday with the official opening of Hyvolution 2026. The event, which brings together key players in green hydrogen and clean energy, kicked off three days of exhibitions, technical debates, scale model hydrogen-powered car races, and business deals that will run until Thursday, September 3.
The opening ceremony was led by the Minister of Energy and Honorary President of Hyvolution 2026, Ximena Rincón, along with the President of this year’s Congress, Vivianne Blanlot, and the CEO of GL events, Francisco Sotomayor. Several dignitaries attended the opening ceremony, including the ambassadors of France, the Netherlands, and the European Union.
Energyvolution is Born
During his welcoming address, Francisco Sotomayor praised the international turnout and the growth of the green hydrogen ecosystem in Chile. “A few years ago, when we decided to bring an international platform dedicated to hydrogen and its derivatives to Chile, we did so convinced that this technology would play a fundamental role in transforming our energy mix. And time has proven us right. Hydrogen has advanced, Chile has built a leading international position, and our industry has matured. Precisely because we have progressed, we have also learned something very important: the energy transition cannot be approached in a fragmented way”, said the executive. In that regard, he took the opportunity to announce the creation of Energyvolution, the new trade fair platform that will encompass all the clean energies that will define the future of the energy transition.
As Francisco Sotomayor explained, “hydrogen will continue to be one of the fundamental pillars of this platform. What we are doing is recognizing that it is part of a much broader, interconnected, and complex energy system”.
Thus, Energyvolution is conceived as an exhibition and conference encompassing electrification, generation, transmission, distribution, storage, hydrogen and its derivatives, new fuels, solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy; electromobility, marine and offshore energy, digitalization, energy efficiency, “and all those technologies that are transforming the way we produce, transport, store, and consume energy. Because, ultimately, energy is one. Everything is connected”, he emphasized.
Energy Roadmap 2026-2030
For her part, Energy Minister Ximena Rincón highlighted the government’s vision and the goals set forth in the Energy Roadmap 2026-2030, which her ministry is promoting. “In the Energy Roadmap 2026-2030, which many joined us in presenting in May, that conviction has translated into verifiable commitments. We established an inter-ministerial working group on strategic energy investment to expedite permits and deadlines. We are modernizing administrative procedures to make the process traceable and predictable. In September, the territorial logistics program for Magallanes will launch, which will, for the first time, reflect the real demand for port services in the region, and we have committed to incorporating the first hydrogen bus assembled in Chile into the Santiago network by 2027,” Minister Rincón emphasized. “None of those announcements alone will produce a ton of green hydrogen, but together they determine whether that ton is produced here,” she added.
Along the same lines, Vivianne Blanlot highlighted the growth of the hydrogen industry in Chile, which now allows us to have “a more mature conversation” on the subject. “At the national level, we have the potential, but there is still a way to go in terms of precisely defining the competitive landscape, the real demand, and structuring businesses with solid possibilities of materializing. The question is not whether green hydrogen will have a role in the energy transition. It will. The crucial question is in which uses it contributes the most and is therefore most competitive. Under what conditions can it develop significantly, and in the case of Chile, how do we transform our renewable energy advantage into emissions reduction, economic development, and value for the regions?”
The opening day did not stop at debate, but also resulted in tangible progress through agreements and technological presentations. Among the highlights was the signing of the Business Agreement promoted by Corfo to boost investment and local development around green hydrogen, along with the memorandum of understanding signed between Marval and H2 Green Mining, an alliance focused on structuring zero-emission mining logistics through adapted fleets and decarbonized operations.
In terms of direct applications, attendees witnessed the debut of the PH2EV, the first hydrogen-powered delivery truck, designed and produced in Chile. The project is led by the Mario Molina Center Chile, with South Energy as the implementing agency and support from Corfo. The vehicle will operate covering routes served by CCU vending machines.
Furthermore, educational innovation took center stage with the launch of the H2GP, a scaled-down automotive endurance competition based on fuel cells that engages young talent in the design, monitoring, and optimization of clean technologies.
Hyvolution 2026 will continue its program until this Thursday at Metropolitan Santiago, combining technical exhibition, business meetings and thematic panels dedicated to the infrastructure, financing and international competitiveness of hydrogen and its derivatives.