Law 26.123 (2006) Promotion of Hydrogen Energy

The law declares the technological development, the production of, and the use of hydrogen fuel, as well as other alternative energy sources, a matter of national interest.

The executive power will determine the federal organisation responsible for developing a National Programme for Hydrogen, which will have among its objectives: develop and strengthen the technological and scientific research into alternative energy sources; incen-tivise the application of hydrogen energy technology; incentivise the participation of the private sector in the generation and production of hydrogen energy where it strengthens the national industry; promote the regional co-operation and technology transfer between MERCOSUR member-countries; develop a plan to educate the general public about the necessity to diminish contamination of the national environment and the importance of alternative energy use; incentivise the industrialisation of hydrogen fuel cells; and promote links between state entities, university research centres and private industry in the interest of a national industry of hydrogen energy.

The objectives will be realised primarily through the creation of The National Fund of Hydrogen Promotion (FONHIDRO), which will depend on the national fiscal budget and which will also oversee various tax exemptions and deductions for participating firms.