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(The Woodlands, TX - February 14, 2002) The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) and LACTEC (Instituto de Tecnologia para o Desenvolvimento) have signed a cooperative agreement to develop projects in energy and the environment, particularly those that promote the use of fuel cells for power generation and energy storage in Brazil.
(From left) HARC's Todd Mitchell, Patrice Parsons and George King welcome Roberto Gregorio and Henrique Jose Ternes Neto of LACTEC.
The two not-for-profit research institutes seek to collaborate on demonstration projects that use fuel cells to provide electricity to remote areas of Brazil. Patrice Parsons, Director of Development at HARC, said the two institutes hope to create a "gateway" between the United States and Brazil and to work together to investigate technologies that have potential for bringing power to millions of people in northern Brazil. These people too often must use inefficient and polluting diesel oil generators to meet their energy needs, Parsons explained.
"We plan to work with the Brazilian government, Sieco S.A., and other partners on projects that will determine whether it is feasible to produce power systems that generate hydrogen from water for later use as fuel to generate electricity," Parsons said. "For that purpose, we will look at hydrogen fuel cells and test their application in generating power, improving system optimization, and proving a zero-emission source of energy."
"We are seeking clean distributed generation solutions that can help Brazil overcome severe energy shortages," Henrique Jos? Ternes Neto, C.E.O of LACTEC. "Through our collaboration with HARC and others, we hope to recommend immediate technology solutions that can help provide energy to isolated communities."
Created in 1982, the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes sustainable development through research programs in energy, life sciences and the environment.
LACTEC is one of the major Brazilian innovation and technological research centers. Originally created through a partnership between UFPR (Federal University of Paran? State) and COPEL (State Power Utility), LACTEC has operated as an independent, non-profit institution since 1997. Its mission is to provide services and technological solutions that can lead to economic, social, scientific, and technological advances, that preserve the environment and that combat poverty.
Sieco, a key strategic partner of LACTEC, is an energy solutions, fuel cell technology deployment support and maintenance organization headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. HARC and Sieco signed a similar agreement last month.
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| Page Updated/Reviewed: 02/14/2002 |
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