Posição/Serviço 10:

Consulting for ABH2-UK PACT OUT2.1 RH&GEDSI
- UNDER ABH2 UK PACT PROJECT-
(Accepting proposals until May 28th, 2025)

PROJECT DESCRIPTION / CONTEXT:

Brazil holds significant potential to become a global leader in the production, consumption, and technological development of low emission hydrogen due to its abundant natural resources and clean energy matrix. However, the country faces major challenges, such as the finalization of regulatory frameworks, improvement in coordination among public and private stakeholders, and the scaling up of hydrogen technologies. Among several initiatives aiming to overcome these obstacles is the ABH2–UK PACT project.

In this context, the UK government has established the UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions), a capacity-building programme designed to accelerate transitions toward climate-compatible development pathways. UK PACT is jointly governed and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) through the UK International Climate Finance. The programme partners with countries with high emissions reduction potential to support projects aligned with national climate strategies.

Brazil is a key partner of the UK government in the UK PACT programme. Accordingly, the "Call for Proposals: Energy Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation" was launched, comprising several Intervention Areas. Specifically, Intervention Area 5: “Mapping current and future hydrogen demand and production in Brazil for the structuring of national low-emissions hydrogen ‘Hubs’” aims to support Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in developing the low emission hydrogen industry.

The Brazilian Hydrogen Association (ABH2) applied to the Call for Proposals under Intervention Area 5 with the project entitled "Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Hydrogen in Brazil: Mapping, Certification, Hubs, and Capacity Building for a Low-Carbon Future." This project was selected by UK PACT and began in January 2025.

Hereinafter referred to as the ABH2–UK PACT project, the initiative aims to develop a comprehensive strategic plan for advancing low-emissions hydrogen technologies in Brazil. It encompasses studies on hydrogen production, transportation, storage, distribution, and end use. The project will also analyze decision-support tools and comprehensive market assessments. To achieve this, it focuses on identifying and proposing enhancements to the regulatory environment, addressing technological and market challenges, and creating inclusive capacity-building strategies.

The project aims to accelerate industrial decarbonization in Brazil by fostering the development of low emission hydrogen technologies in both production and end-use, aligned with the country’s energy transition goals.  Hard to abate sectors—such as extractive industries, steel and cement manufacturing, freight transport (land, water, and air), and biofuel production including SAF and synthetic fuels—are key targets of this initiative.

By promoting collaboration among the private sector, government, and academia, the project will enhance stakeholder engagement and facilitate the establishment of low emission hydrogen hubs, which will benefit from a robust legal and regulatory framework aligned with international hydrogen certification standards.

In addition, the project will incorporate methodologies that promote social equity—particularly gender equality and the inclusion of underrepresented groups—ensuring a fair and inclusive transition. The expected long-term impacts include greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, development of a low emission hydrogen market, and positioning Brazil as a global leader in decarbonization technologies.

This consulting firm will support the delivery of ABH2–UK PACT project output OUT2.1: Mapping of human resource needs in the low-emissions hydrogen sector, by value chain activity, including a matrix model for GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion) assessment.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

This contract aims to support Brazil’s industrial decarbonization process through the analysis of the current availability and qualification level of the workforce across the low emissions hydrogen value chain. It also seeks to propose methodologies and recommendations for the development of workforce skills aligned with emerging sector technologies and national energy transition goals.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND WORK DYNAMICS:

The contracted consulting firm will be expected to perform the following tasks:

1. Develop a detailed work plan, including schedule and proposed methodology.

2. Produce  technical reports in English containing national and international literature and research reviews on professional profiles required for the low-emissions hydrogen sector. The analysis should cover, among others:

- Hydrogen production from: biomethane, biomass from waste, electrolysis (including nuclear-powered), natural hydrogen, ethanol, and natural gas with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS);

- Synthetic fuel production from CO₂, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF);

- Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS);

- Industrial applications of hydrogen in mining, steel, cement, among others;

- Hydrogen transport, storage, and trade in various forms;

- Mobility applications (freight and passenger) in trains, ships, buses, etc.

3. Develop two methodological proposals*, a desktop research and a field research approach, with application and presentation of results for mapping professional skills along the low-emissions hydrogen chain. The document must indicate the current maturity level of the mapped activities and include GEDSI indicators (with at least a gender breakdown).

4. Design models and build a dynamic tool to estimate workforce demand in the low-emissions hydrogen chain, segmented by activity type and education level.

5. Identify academic and technical training, and complementary qualifications required to meet industry needs, focusing on fields such as engineering, chemistry, physics, geology, economics, law, and business administration. Recommend training pathways and potential curricular revisions.

6. Deliver organized spreadsheets (in English) for use in presentations, workshops, and meetings with project funders.

7. Submit a final report (in English) with findings, recommendations, and priority actions.

8. Attend weekly project monitoring meetings with ABH2.

* The consulting firm may propose alternative methodological approaches for ABH2's review and approval.

All activities will be supervised by ABH2. Revisions and adjustments may be requested during execution. When necessary, ABH2 will facilitate access to affiliated organizations and relevant sources. ABH2 will also provide available literature for literature/desktop research.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

1. Two technical reports (initial and final) consolidating results from all methodologies used, covering the national and international landscape of professional profiles in the low-emissions hydrogen sector;

2. PowerPoint presentation summarizing the final report conclusions;

3. Methodological document detailing the mapping of resource needs by sector and the GEDSI evaluation model, along with analysis of the collected data;

4. Compilation of public materials used, including sources, professionals involved, references, links, videos, and other media.

TIMELINE:

The project includes two main deliverables:

1st Deliverable – July 2025:

- Technical report (in English) containing:

- Review of national and international professional profiles;

- Applied methodological proposals;

- Mapping of existing skills;

- GEDSI indicators.

2nd Deliverable – December 2025:

- Final consolidated report (in English), integrating previous results and remaining project outputs.

*Note: All deliverables are subject to ABH2’s evaluation and approval. Revisions may be requested before final acceptance.*

CLARIFICATIONS AND PROPOSAL SUBMISSION:

For any clarifications, please contact:

- procurement-ukpact@abh2.org.br

- rodrigo.almeida@abh2.org.br

Commercial proposals must be submitted by May 26, 2025, to:

- procurement-ukpact@abh2.org.br

- financeiro@abh2.org.br

Proposals must include:

- Work plan and proposed methodology;

- Assigned team;

- Detailed commercial proposal, with pricing by product/milestone.

After submissions, eligible companies will be scheduled for a mandatory technical proposal presentation meeting.

The selection will be based on technical quality and methodological adherence to the scope outlined in this document.