Technical, economic and environmental aspects of eletrolytic processes for the production of hydrogen

• Grant number: 12/06387-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Electrical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: José Luz Silveira
• Grantee: Luigi Viola
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FEG). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Guaratinguetá. Guaratinguetá , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The main controversy regarding the feasibility of hydrogen economy comes from the costs the technology imposes. However, it should be emphasized that the technical and economic analysis rarely consider the environmental processes. Thus, the technology viable for today's market are those representing lower costs and higher profits without consideration of the ecological potential negative or positive. In fact, environmentally sound technologies are more expensive, as they incorporate factors before neglected, however increasingly gain prominence as the consumer becomes clear. Insert solutions technically, economically, and environmentally competitive in the energy market is a major challenge for society since the sector concentrates immense corporations and interests. The environmental aspect emerges as the trump card of renewable and can force governments to provide incentives to encourage the transition to an environmentally responsible energy matrix. Thus, to assess the impact that new technologies pose to the environment, comparing them with existing technology, taxing the negative solutions, and encouraging positive solutions can foster a new horizon for the hydrogen economy, giving the place in the world energy scene.(AU)