Heliocentris Launches Brazil Project

 

Heliocentris Academia (based in Berlin, Germany) is known worldwide as a leading provider of hydrogen and sustainable energy training equipment for education and industry. One of our biggest projects to date is currently taking place in Brazil where we partnered with the National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI) to install our hydrogen training equipment in six technical training institutes across the country. The project was funded by GIZ Germany and initiated by SENAI RN Natal to establish the first green hydrogen excellence center and education hubs for Brazil.

 

As part of this project, Heliocentris provided SENAI with our NEL New Energy Lab and our NIS NEXA® Integration System. Both our NEL New Energy Lab and NIS Nexa® Integration System offer extensive hydrogen training in all aspects of renewable energy systems – from generation to storage to management.

 

An integral part of this equipment delivery was providing three on-site engineers who traveled from Germany to Brazil to support the implementation of the equipment and training of the users.

 

As part of this collaboration, we were lucky enough to hear firsthand from an individual from one of 6 partner schools who received equipment, Isabela Maciel Taveira from SENAI CE Fortaleza.

 

“It was a really good experience to work with Heliocentris. As a professional school, we buy simulators from different suppliers, but the experience with Heliocentris was fantastic, because we could find simulators that were really advanced. We were provided with a lot of hydrogen technological solutions that no other company could provide us.”

 

We were interested in how SENAI experienced the hydrogen learning equipment and their support from Heliocentris. One of the things Heliocentris prides itself on is not only world-class hydrogen demonstration and learning equipment, but world-class support, installation, and afterservice. Three full-time technicians even flew from Berlin to the SENAI campuses in Brazil in order to carry out the installation, training, and support over 3 weeks.

 

“The technical support after the installation has been fantastic. Heliocentris sent us professionals from Germany to do the installation, they gave us complete support. They also give us training frequently. Whenever the professionals have some doubts about the applications and components involved in the process related to the use, Heliocentris is always there and can answer questions. We had some issues with one simulator – that happens of course – but Heliocentris was always there answering emails so fast.”

 

But why might others be interested in this sort of equipment? The NEL New Energy Lab and the NIS Nexa® Integration System provide demonstration and training in all aspects of integrated renewable energy systems – from generation to storage to management of energy – but what about training organizations that feel they aren’t quite ready for equipment in hydrogen training?

 

“It’s always important to meet the demands before they come,” says Isabela. “As a professional school, we have an important role in anticipating demands for this sort of technology. Hydrogen is booming. This means if you have the opportunity to buy equipment to show the process of hydrogen electrolysis, to demonstrate hydrogen storage, to demonstrate the application of hydrogen – you’ll be able to meet the demands of the future market.”

 

And do you have any advice for organizations in a similar position to your own interested in procuring hydrogen training equipment?

 

“I would say you need to offer world-class training to your students, and to do this you need world-class equipment. This is what Heliocentris was able to provide us.”

 

The funding for the project was made possible by GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit).

 

Isabela Maciel Taveira is a Technical Specialist in renewable energy and an advisor of energy transition at SENAI, the National Service for Industrial Training in Brazil. Founded in 1942, SENAI is one of the most important institutions in the country providing formal training for Brazilian industry professionals.