EREN Network News

March 24, 1999

News and Events

• DaimlerChrysler Unveils Fuel-Cell Powered Car
• Medal Awarded for Advancements in Fuel Processors
• Electric-Car Charging Station Supplied with Green Power
• Solar Two Power Tower Project Reaches Its End

Site News

• DOE's Seattle Regional Support Office
• Building Energy Software Tools

Energy Facts and Tips

• EPA Releases Draft Inventory of Greenhouse Gases for 1997
• Perform Your Own Home Energy Audit On the Web

About this Newsletter

News and Events

DaimlerChrysler Unveils Fuel-Cell Powered Car
DaimlerChrysler unveiled the NECAR 4, its latest fuel-cell- powered concept car, on March 17th. Advances in fuel-cell technology have greatly reduced the size of the fuel cell system, allowing it to be hidden in the vehicle's floor. The NECAR 4 has a top speed of 90 miles per hour and a range of nearly 280 miles. DaimlerChrysler plans to introduce a commercial version of the hydrogen-powered fuel-cell car by 2004. For more information, see the DaimlerChrysler Web site.

Medal Awarded for Advancements in Fuel Processors
In related news, the second Partnerships for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) Medal was awarded on March 17th to 15 scientists and engineers for their work on fuel processors for automotive fuel cells. Fuel processors convert such fuels as gasoline, methanol, ethanol, and natural gas into hydrogen, which powers most fuel cells. On-board fuel processors would thus increase the flexibility and practicality of fuel-cell-powered vehicles.

To see the Secretary of Energy's statement regarding both of these fuel-cell news items, see the DOE press release.

Electric-Car Charging Station Supplied with Green Power
Electric cars are a much cleaner alternative than gasoline- powered cars, but the electricity needed to recharge them can still cause pollution -- unless the electricity comes from clean, renewable sources. So when General Motors (GM) agreed to install an electric-car charging station at the Union of Concerned Scientist's (UCS) office in Berkeley, California, the organization arranged to power the station with green power from Green Mountain Energy.

For more information, see the UCS press release.

Solar Two Power Tower Project Reaches Its End
The Solar Two power tower, a solar power plant in Barstow, California, will reach the end of its scheduled operational run today. For the past three years, the pilot plant has been proving the feasibility of the solar power tower concept.

Power towers use a large field of mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a fixed point at the top of a tower. A fluid is circulated through the tower to carry the sun's heat to a power plant. Solar Two successfully demonstrated the use of molten salt as the fluid in a power tower. The plant was built by a consortium of electric utilities, industries and energy agencies in partnership with DOE. Data provided by the pilot plant will be used to help commercialize the technology.

DOE's power tower research is coordinated by SunLab, a virtual laboratory that combines the expertise of Sandia National Laboratories and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. For more information about Solar Two, see the SunLab site on EREN.

Site News

DOE's Seattle Regional Support Office
DOE's Seattle Regional Support Office (SRSO) serves the western and Pacific regions of the United States. Information about the SRSO's energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, staff, and partners; a calendar of events; links to funding and grant information; an open solicitations list; and a news section are provided on this site.

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

Building Energy Software Tools
Architects and engineers involved in building design rely heavily on software simulations to help them understand and predict a building's energy performance. A wide variety of these software design tools have been created, and their scope ranges from multiple-building facilities down to specific items such as windows or lights. To help building designers find the tools they need for the task at hand, DOE's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs created the Building Energy Software Tools Web site. The site was recently redesigned to allow more direct access to the more than 150 software tools indexed there. Software designers are also encouraged to submit their software for inclusion in the Web site.

Energy Facts and Tips

EPA Releases Draft Inventory of Greenhouse Gases for 1997
The EPA has released the report, "Draft 1999 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-1997." The report shows that total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased by 1.3 percent from 1996 to 1997, down from the previous year's increase of 3.3 percent. Fossil fuel combustion caused nearly 80 percent of the increased emissions. Total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were 11.1 percent above 1990 levels in 1997. The document is available for public comment through April 9, 1999.

Perform Your Own Home Energy Audit On the Web
Although nothing can replace the expertise of an energy auditor, the Home Energy Saver Web site comes close. If you take the time to customize the information for your home, the site will guide you through several forms in which you fill out detailed information about your home. The Home Energy Saver uses this information to assess your home's energy use and to evaluate various options to improve your home's energy performance. Although the site requires some work on your part to gather the information needed for the forms, the payoff is worth the effort. The site was created by DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with support from DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Visit the site. See also the DOE press release

About this Newsletter

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