CICY.mxEnglishWATER SCIENCEENGLISHRESEARCHRENEWABLE ENERGY UNIT

RENEWABLE ENERGY UNIT

INTRODUCTION

The Renewable Energy Division of the CICY has two research areas that work in coordination, and in collaboration with national and international institutions, to develop sustainable processes of energy generation from biomass and other sources (solar and hydrogen), as well as energy management and storage. The Division offers master and doctorate degrees, and is open to academic visits for students and professors. Researchers in the Division implement projects, publish widely, supervise theses and dissertations, create patents and build prototype systems.

Mission

To use scientific research and technological development to promote implementation of renewable energy systems (particularly those based on bioenergy), electrochemical energy production and storage systems, and hybrid energy systems, and foster interchange with the private sector. The intent is to achieve social impacts resulting in higher competitiveness, and the creation and consolidation of companies at the regional and national levels.

Vision

The Division will be a leader in renewable energy innovation and actively participate in its implementation at the regional and national levels.

RESEARCH AREAS

1. BIOENERGY

Researchers in this area are developing and enhancing energy generation processes involving biomass as feedstock, applying a biorefining approach. Projects include gas and liquid biofuels production via synthesis of biodiesel, green diesel and biokerosene from used vegetable oils and microalgae. Biogas and bioethanol production from vegetal waste is also under investigation. Microbial fuel cell prototypes are being developed to produce energy from biomass.

Research Topics:

  • Biokerosene and biodiesel from vegetable oils, microalgae and cyanobacteria, catalysts.
  • Lignocellulosic ethanol.
  • Energy from wastewater.

RESEARCHERS

2. ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION

The primary focuses in this area are development of energy storage technologies, such as capacitors and batteries, fuel cells, and hydrogen production and storage. Researchers are developing electrocatalysts or different electrode reactions, and materials for charge or hydrogen storage, preferably free of noble metals and/or sourced from waste biomass. Current projects address technological aspects of batteries, super-capacitors, electrolysis and fuel cell prototypes.

Research Topics:

  • Catalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells, oxygen reduction and electrolysis.
  • Alcohol and hydrogen fuel cells, enzymatic electrodes.
  • Supercapacitors, energy storage, electroconductive carbons and polymers.

RESEARCHERS

3. HYBRID ENERGY SYSTEMS

Through multidisciplinary scientific and technological projects, researchers in this area apply a comprehensive approach for improving renewable energy sources for power input networks; for example, perfecting energy storage systems to enhance the viability of renewable energy via greater efficiency and minimizing energy loss. A primary focus is energy management systems for multiple renewable energy sources, which involves fuel cells, photovoltaic cells, wind systems, thermoelectric systems, batteries and super-capacitors.

Research Topics:

  • Management systems for solar, wind, hydrogen and biomass sources, and electrochemical storage.
  • Renewable energy-powered autonomous vehicles.
  • Modelling and control of intelligent networks.

RESEARCHERS

Staff

RESEARCHERS

TECHNICIANS


Contact

Raúl Tapia Tussell, PhD.
Director, Renewable Energy Division
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Carretera Sierra Papacal-Chuburna Puerto, Km.5
97302, Sierra Papacal, Yucatán, México
Tel.: +52 99 99 30 07 60 ext. 1202 (not in service)