EREN Network News

November 1, 2000

News and Events

• Federal Solar Energy Systems Dedicated in Maryland, Chicago
• Hybrid Fuel Cell-Turbine System Planned for Federal Site
• DOE Announces New National Bioenergy Center
• Renewable Energy Research Funding Increases 20 Percent
• DaimlerChrysler Unveils Fuel-Cell-Powered Jeep
• Green Power Comes to Maryland, South Carolina
• DOE Awards $11.8 Million for Energy-Efficient Glass Making
• Hogs' Manure Lights Their Own Barn Through Biodigestion

• Energy Saving Trust

• EIA: Carbon Emissions Increased 1.3 Percent in 1999

News and Events

Federal Solar Energy Systems Dedicated in Maryland, Chicago
DOE and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) dedicated a 100-kilowatt solar electric system last week at the Suitland, Maryland Federal Center near Washington, D.C. The 2800 solar photovoltaic panels comprise the largest multi-celled thin-film solar power system in the country. In dedicating the system, DOE noted that the President's Million Solar Roofs initiative has installed more than 100,000 solar roofs since 1997, nearly double the goal of 51,000 roofs by the end of this year. See the DOE press release.

DOE, GSA, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also unveiled Monday an 84-panel solar electric system on the roof of the Metcalfe Federal Building in Chicago. EPA and GSA provided funding for the $100,000 project. See the EPA press release.

For more information about the Million Solar Roofs initiative, see the Web site on EREN.

Hybrid Fuel Cell-Turbine System Planned for Federal Site
DOE announced last week plans to power an EPA facility in Fort Meade, Maryland, with a revolutionary hybrid system that combines a fuel cell with a microturbine. The Siemens- Westinghouse Power Corporation will build the 1,000-kilowatt power plant, which uses tubular ceramic fuel cells that operate under high pressure. The hot, pressurized exhaust gas is then used to power the microturbine. The system will be installed at EPA's Environmental Science Center and should be operational by mid-2002. See the DOE press release.

Siemens-Westinghouse began testing the first system of this type in April. See the April 19th edition of EREN Network News.

DOE Announces New National Bioenergy Center
DOE announced yesterday the creation of a new National Bioenergy Center, to be based at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). NREL and the Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) will lead the center, which will link DOE- funded biomass renewable energy research programs with the resources and capabilities of DOE laboratories, universities, the private sector, the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, and several other federal agencies. NREL's $33 million biomass research program focuses on the conversion of biomass feedstocks into electric power, transportation fuels and chemical products. ORNL's $6 million research program focuses on biomass crop research. See the DOE press release.

The center is part of DOE's efforts to implement President Clinton's federal initiative to triple the nation's use of bioenergy and bioproducts by 2010. See the Bioenergy Initiative on the EREN Web site.

Renewable Energy Research Funding Increases 20 Percent
President Clinton last week approved the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which includes a $65 million increase in funding for research in renewable energy technologies. That represents about a 20 percent increase over fiscal year 2000 funding, bringing the total funding to $375 million. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will also receive $123 million — a 19 percent increase — for its Climate Change Technology Initiative, which helps businesses and consumers save energy and money. See the October 27th White House press release and statement by the President.

DOE noted Monday that its Weatherization Assistance Program — which is funded separately — received a 13 percent increase in funds, bringing its budget to $153 million for fiscal year 2001. The funding is distributed to states to support the weatherization of the homes of low-income families. Weatherization can include installing insulation, retrofitting furnaces and boilers in cold climates, and providing cooling measures in warm climates. See the DOE press release.

Monday was declared "Weatherization Day" by DOE. See the Weatherization Assistance Program on the EREN Web site.

DaimlerChrysler Unveils Fuel-Cell-Powered Jeep
DaimlerChrysler Corporation last week announced its production of a prototype fuel-cell-powered Jeep Commander 2. The Jeep runs off methanol, which is converted to hydrogen onboard to power the fuel cell. Front and rear electric motors produce a total of 82 kilowatts of power — about 110 horsepower. Featuring a nickel-metal- hydride battery pack and regenerative braking, which recharges the battery pack, the Jeep achieves about 12 miles per gallon of methanol — the energy equivalent of about 24 miles per gallon of gasoline. The company plans to market its fuel-cell-powered buses in 2002, followed by a fuel-cell-powered car in 2004.

DaimlerChrysler also announced last week that it has acquired Global Electric MotorCars, LLC (GEM), the largest U.S. producer of so-called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs). NEVs have a maximum speed of 25 mph and are certified for operation on roads posted at 35 mph or less. Thirty-two states presently have approved the use of NEVs, and the State of California certifies the vehicles as Zero Emission Vehicles. GEM will produce more than 5,000 electric vehicles this year.

See the October 23rd press releases by selecting "Press Releases & Speeches" on the DaimlerChrysler Web.

Green Power Comes to Maryland, South Carolina
Pepco Energy Services announced last week that it has begun offering the first green power in Maryland. The company's "PowerChoice Green Electricity" will use renewable energy sources to produce at least half its power. See the company's press release.

In South Carolina, Santee Cooper, the state-owned electric and water utility, will start producing power from the methane gas generated by a landfill. Santee Cooper announced last week that it will build a 2.2-megawatt facility in Horry County, producing enough electricity to power 400 homes. The green power, the first in the state, will be sold to Santee Cooper and Horry Electric Cooperative customers at a premium price. See the Santee Cooper press release.

DOE Awards $11.8 Million for Energy-Efficient Glass Making
DOE announced last week the award of $11.8 million to four glass-making firms and DOE's Argonne National Laboratory to improve the energy efficiency of glass making. The projects will range from in-house recycling of glass waste to improvements in glass furnace technology. See the DOE press release.

Hogs' Manure Lights Their Own Barn Through Biodigestion
Our continuing series of manure-to-energy stories turns this week to hogs. A new biodigester at a hog farm in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, is now converting hog manure to methane, which is then burned to produce electricity. Partly funded by DOE and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the system reduces methane odors from the hog farm while producing enough electricity to light the barn. See the October 26th press release on the DEP Web site.

Site News

Energy Saving Trust
This nonprofit agency works with a range of partners to deliver energy efficiency to consumers in the United Kingdom (U.K.). In addition to general information about the agency, the site hosts two smaller subsites that provide information for consumers on energy efficiency and alternative fuel vehicles. Visitors can find out about saving energy in the home and can use a calculator to determine the potential savings from energy efficient appliances. A database of energy efficiency grants in the U.K. is also available for both homeowners and small businesses. The alternative fuels portion, called Powershift, focuses on alternative fuels for transportation that are viable in the U.K. today. Users can find information on the financial assistance available to purchase approved clean-fuel vehicles.

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

EIA: Carbon Emissions Increased 1.3 Percent in 1999
Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil-fuel use increased by 1.3 percent in 1999, according to a report released yesterday by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). The result follows an increase of only 0.1 percent in 1998 and is closer to the decade's average increase of about 1.4 percent. Carbon dioxide emissions from transportation increased 2.9 percent, accounting for most of the increase. Total greenhouse gas emissions, which include methane and other greenhouse gases, increased by 0.8 percent in 1999. The emissions of greenhouses gases other than carbon dioxide all stayed level or decreased in 1999. See the EIA press release.

About this Newsletter

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your e-mail address, 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.