EREN Network News

December 6, 2000

News and Events

• BPA and Calpine to Pursue 50-Megawatt Geothermal Plant
• American Superconductor to Power Ships with HTS Motors
• DOE Releases Plans to Expand Distributed Energy Resources
• U.N.: Governments Must Shift to Low-Carbon Energy Supplies
• Report: Hydropower May Emit Significant Amounts of Carbon

• Biobased Products and Bioenergy Initiative

• Save Energy With the "Home Improvement Toolbox"

News and Events

BPA and Calpine to Pursue 50-Megawatt Geothermal Plant
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) announced last week that it plans to buy up to 49.9 megawatts of electricity from a geothermal power plant to be developed in northern California. The deal is contingent on the success of Calpine Corporation, the project's developer, at finding a commercial source of geothermal steam at the site. Calpine expects to begin exploratory drilling in spring at a site called Fourmile Hill, located within a known geothermal resource area called Glass Mountain. If the project is successful, the power plant could begin operating in late 2004, according to BPA. See the BPA press release.

American Superconductor to Power Ships with HTS Motors
American Superconductor Corporation announced last week that it has received a contract from the U.S. Navy to design and develop high-temperature superconducting (HTS) motors for electric ship propulsion. At extremely low temperatures, superconducting materials conduct electricity with no resistance, causing very low energy losses as electricity passes through them. HTS materials achieve superconductivity at relatively high temperatures, making them more practical for use in motors and cables. When HTS wire is used for the coils in motors, the motors can be smaller and should operate at high energy efficiencies.

Under the Navy contract, American Superconductor will complete the design of a 33,500-horsepower motor and begin fabricating and testing motor components. The company anticipates additional contracts that would lead to sea trials of a 5,000-horsepower HTS motor within the next three years. The company is also collaborating on the project with Litton Ship Systems, a major shipbuilder for the U.S. Navy. See the American Superconductor press releases.

DOE Releases Plans to Expand Distributed Energy Resources
DOE released on Monday its new strategic plan for increasing the use of distributed energy resources in the United States. Distributed energy resources are non-centralized methods of meeting electricity needs, including distributed generation — generating power at or near its point of use — plus a wide variety of energy storage and energy efficiency technologies. In the near term, DOE's strategic plan focuses on developing "next generation" distributed energy technologies and addressing the institutional and regulatory barriers that interfere with the development of distributed energy resources. See the DOE press release.

In related news, Detroit Edison announced last week that it is working with DOE and DOE's Sandia National Laboratory to test a prototype of a transportable battery storage system. The system consists of a 200-kilowatt zinc-bromide battery and a power conditioning system in a package small enough to be housed in a tractor trailer. Detriot Edison will use the system for power quality and load leveling, charging it during the night when electrical use is low and discharging it at peak usage periods during the day. See the Detroit Edison press release.

U.N.: Governments Must Shift to Low-Carbon Energy Supplies
In light of the recent failure of climate change talks at The Hague in the Netherlands, a senior United Nations (U.N.) official said the conference highlighted both the importance and difficulty of creating a world less dependent upon carbon-intensive fossil fuels.

"We must move toward low- and zero-carbon energy supplies and a much higher degree of energy efficiency," said Klaus Toepfer, the Executive Director of the U.N. Environmental Program. Toepfer advocates resuming the talks early in 2001. See the U.N. press release, titled "Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change."

Report: Hydropower May Emit Significant Amounts of Carbon
A new study by the World Commission on Dams finds that hydropower facilities, often considered a zero-carbon source of energy, may in fact emit significant quantities of carbon. The reservoirs created by large impoundment dams generate carbon dioxide and methane, due at least in part to the flooding of forests when the reservoir is created. However, the commission found a wide range of emissions, ranging from ten times less than comparable fossil-fueled plants up to "possibly greater" emissions than fossil-fueled plants. See the commission's press release.

Site News

Biobased Products and Bioenergy Initiative
This site provides information about activities in various U.S. federal agencies relating to biobased products and bioenergy. Visitors can learn about the role of each agency and its bioenergy programs, particularly the programs carried out by DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The site also features a monthly newsletter, solicitation opportunities, and upcoming bioenergy events.

For this and other recent additions to the EREN Web site, see http://www.eren.doe.gov/new/whats-new.html.

Energy Facts and Tips

Save Energy With the "Home Improvement Toolbox"
Looking to save energy on your heating bills? The Energy Star program — a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DOE — has launched a new Web-based "toolbox" that provides online advice for saving energy at home. Through four tools labeled "Home Improvement Tool," "Remodeling and Home Improvement," "Home Doctor," and "Home Benchmarking Tool," this site provides interactive guidance on energy efficiency for your home. See the Energy Star Home Improvement Toolbox.

Those familiar with the Home Energy Saver Web site, produced by DOE's Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL), may notice some similarities to the "Home Improvement Tool" — both Web sites are powered by the same calculations. If you're not familiar with it, the Home Energy Saver is worth investigating as a resource for energy-saving ideas.

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