ARGENTINA: VIDEOCONFERENCE ON HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001481 SIPDIS FOR WHA/BSC AND WHA/EPSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG SENV ECON AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: VIDEOCONFERENCE ON HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS BUILDS ON ALTERNATIVE ENERGY AGREEMENT ¶1. (U) WHA/EPSC and Embassy Buenos Aires organized a successful videoconference (DVC) on October 24, between U.S. and Argentine experts and policymakers on the subject of hydrogen fuel cells. The DVC was a follow-up to the agreement on alternative and renewable energy signed by A/S Shannon last July, and a direct result of the meeting of the alternative energy working group in Buenos Aires on September ¶11. The DVC linked the State Department to DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Pittsburgh and Argentina's Ministry of Energy in Buenos Aires. ¶2. (U) The U.S. side included Dr. Juru Pena, a senior researcher at Virginia Commonwealth; Michael Mills, Project Leader at DOE's International Policy Office; Kristin Shade Deason, Senior Analyst at DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office; and Antonio Ruiz, also from DOE. Representing State were WHA/EPSC's Faith Corneille and Michael Stewart, who had organized the DVC, as well as Brian Duggan from EEB and Thomas Burns from OES. Fuel Cell Technology Manager Wayne Surdoval and Project Manager Maria Reidpath represented DOE's NETL in Pittsburgh. Also present were two officials from the Argentine Embassy in Washington. ¶3. (U) The Argentine side was led by Juan Legisa, the GOA's Senior Coordinator for Renewable Energy Policy. It included Jorge Ricombeni, who handles special projects for the MFA; Horacio Corti from the Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEA); Osvaldo Bakovich, from the Energy Ministry; and Miguel Laborde, from the University of Buenos Aires. Embassy's ESTCouns accompanied the group. ¶4. (U) Pena outlined the state of research in the U.S. and noted that problems still remained, particularly regarding storage and safety. Mills shared a PowerPoint presentation that highlighted international cooperation efforts and strategic partnerships. Surdoval explained NETL's focus on high temperature solid oxyde fuel cells. The Argentines in turn outlined the GOA's 5-year program for hydrogen fuel cell development. They stressed that this was one of the highest research priorities for the GOA in alternative energy. ¶5. (U) The Argentine coordinator called for joint research and development, and pledged to transmit concrete proposals for cooperation within the next weeks. It was agreed that the U.S. Embassy and WHA/EPSC would be the focal points for communication between both sides. The coordinator was pleased with the results of the DVC and the contacts established. He requested that the next DVC be focused on wind power. WAYNE