?Conversion y almacenamiento de energía en base a hidrógeno. Estrategias en el MERCOSUR?.

A. VISINTIN; M. E. MARTINS.; C. F. ZINOLA; E. SPINADEL

2004-01-01/2004-12-30

1-30

Química

Energia

Renewable energies are a safe alternative to the socioeconomic problem that the Mercosur region is experiencing. Hydrogen is the ideal storage for wind and electric energy. Although hydrogen is the most abundant element in nature, it requires energy for its production, because it seldom occurs free. Pure hydrogen is obtained by water electrolysis. It is for that reason that in the Mercosur regions the ideal scenario that must be exploited is the combination of two elements, wind and hydrogen, inasmuch as the use of fuel cells allows transferring wind energy to isolated places. Methods for obtaining hydrogen by the reforming of natural gas or biofuel with very good results are also being developed. Therefore, the present work focuses on both studies and research on hydrogen energy and its beneficial consequences in relation to renewable and non-renewable resources, and to the mitigation of the environmental impact during its use. The multidisciplinary character of this work has allowed approaching it from a basic and also technological aspect considering different possibilities, such as electricity generation in fuel cells and hydrogen production using wind energy, and their impact on the region.Keywords: Hydrogen, fuel cells, metal hydrides, wind energy.