Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant chemical element on Earth, and its combustion produces merely water. Therefore, despite difficulties with its storage, it could serve as an excellent alternative for the energy system infrastructure, which is presently being renovated because of its harmful impact on the environment and its dependence on finite fossil fuels.

Studies on the impact of hydrogen on motorized transportation, the increasing trend to use it as engine fuel in developed nations, and hydrogen as a cheap fuel and a by-product of the sugar cane industry were presented at the conference on Thursday.

Research is being conducted in Cuba to obtain hydrogen from electricity generated by bagasse and through electrolysis, a method to separate electrolytes by means of electricity.

Certain components of rain water -like sulfuric, nitric and carbonic acids prroduced by gas emissions, and which leave oxides in the atmosphere- have a negative impact on rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, crops, and buildings, as well being harmful to animals and humans.

Due to such contamination in Sweden, over 14,000 lakes have become acidified, resulting in the death of almost one third of all the fish in those waters. In Canada, the salmon mating season is now history.

According to Elena Vigil, from the University of Havana's Faculty of Physics, the energy of the sun must be the solution in the long run. The scientist sees promise in the use of photovoltaic conversion, the components of the solar hydrogen cycle and a system of energy cells that work with hydrogen.