EREN Network News

April 14, 1999

News and Events

• BP Amoco Creates World's Largest Solar Company
• U.S., China Agree to $100 Million Clean Energy Program
• SOLTECH '99 Comes to Kansas City, Missouri
• Coils Shipped for First Large Superconducting Motor

Site News

• DOE's National Biofuels Program

Energy Facts and Tips

• Energy Information Administration Kid's Page
• Landscaping for Energy Efficiency

About this Newsletter

News and Events

BP Amoco Creates World's Largest Solar Company
BP Amoco announced on April 6th that it was paying Enron Corporation $45 million for the full ownership of Solarex, a manufacturer of photovoltaic solar cells. Enron and Amoco previously each held 50 percent of the company. BP Amoco will combine Solarex with BP Solar -- another solar-cell manufacturer owned by BP Amoco -- to create the world's largest solar company, to be called BP Solarex. For more information, see the Solarex Web site.

In a related story, BP Amoco announced on April 13th its plans to install solar panels on the canopies of roughly 200 service stations in eleven countries, including the United States. The $50 million, 3.5-megawatt project, will make BP Amoco one of the world's largest users of solar power. For more information, see the "Plug in the Sun" page on BP Amoco's Web site.

U.S., China Agree to $100 Million Clean Energy Program
In an agreement that will accelerate the export of U.S. environmental technology to China, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, DOE, the China Development Bank, and China's State Development Planning Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a $100 Million Clean Energy Program. The purpose of the program is to accelerate the deployment of clean U.S. technologies in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and pollution reduction. Program funds will be used to finance U.S. exports to China. For more information, see the DOE press release.

SOLTECH '99 Comes to Kansas City, Missouri
The solar energy industry's largest gathering, SOLTECH, kicks off on Monday, April 19th, in Kansas City, Missouri. Sponsored by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Heartland Solar Energy Industries Association, the Midwest Research Institute, and the Missouri State Energy Office, the event will feature 33 exhibits and a 3-day agenda of technical sessions. For more information, see the SOLTECH '99 page on the SEIA Web site.

Coils Shipped for First Large Superconducting Motor
American Superconductor Corporation announced April 7th that it had shipped the high-temperature superconducting coils that will form the heart of the first 1,000-horsepower superconducting motor. Reliance Electric will build and test the motor, which will be smaller, lighter, and more efficient than standard electric motors. A 5,000-horsepower motor is also in the works. The companies are working under the auspices of DOE's Superconducting Partnership Initiative. See the American Superconductor press release.

For more information about DOE's Superconducting Partnership Initiative, see the "Superconductivity for Electric Systems" page on the EREN Web site.

Site News

DOE's National Biofuels Program
According to their Web site, the mission of DOE's National Biofuels Program is to "research, develop, demonstrate, and facilitate the commercialization of biomass-based, environmentally sound, cost-competitive U.S. technologies to develop clean fuels for transportation, leading to the establishment of a major biofuels industry." The site provides information about biofuels, biomass, program research and partnerships, resource and market issues, and publications and data.

For this and other recent additions see the EREN Web site.

Energy Facts and Tips

Energy Information Administration Kid's Page
DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) has created a kid's page that includes a potpourri of energy facts, figures, and fun for students and teachers in grades 3 through 8. Even adults may want to try their hand at this Web site's energy quiz, which is actually quite challenging. See EIA's Kid's Page.

Landscaping for Energy Efficiency
With spring in the air, many homeowners are pulling out their shovels and working some landscaping magic on their yards. If you are one of those weekend yard laborers, you might consider some ways that landscaping can save energy while beautifying your home. Well-placed trees and bushes can shade your home from unwanted summer sunlight, particularly on the east and west sides of the house. In hot climates, shading is also desirable on the south side of your house. In cold, windy climates, upwind trees and bushes can further save energy by serving as a windbreak. See the fact sheet on "Landscaping for Energy Efficiency,"from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse.

About this Newsletter

To subscribe to this newsletter, please go to the Web page http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/.

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) home page is located at http://www.eren.doe.gov/.

Please contact webmaster_eere@nrel.gov if you have questions or comments about the EREN Web site.

If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, please contact the editor.