EREN Network News

March 28, 2001

News and Events

• World's Largest Solar and Wind Hybrid System Online
• DaimlerChrysler to Deliver 30 Fuel Cell Buses to Europe
• Ohio Green Power Deal Finalized; Wind, Solar Plants Planned
• Energy Star Recognizes 39 Energy-Saving Trendsetters
• "Clean Snowmobile Challenge 2001" Under Way in Wyoming

• International Cogeneration Alliance

• Power Supply Problems Threaten Pacific Northwest
• Study Provides Direct Confirmation of Greenhouse Effects

News and Events

World's Largest Solar and Wind Hybrid System Online
PowerLight Corporation placed online in mid-March the world's largest system that combines the power from both wind and solar energy. The new grid-connected system at Parker Ranch, near Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii, is unusual in that its solar energy capacity — 175 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic panels — is actually larger than its wind energy capacity of 50 kilowatts. Such hybrid power systems combine the strengths of both energy systems to maximize the available power — for instance, the wind might be most likely to blow on non-sunny days. According to PowerLight, the system is large enough to meet the water pumping needs for the entire 225,000-acre cattle ranch. See the PowerLight press release.

PowerLight also announced that it is installing a 23-kilowatt solar electric system at the new headquarters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 332 in San Jose, California. PowerLight's insulating solar roof tiles will reduce heating and air conditioning needs in the building while generating about 30,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. IBEW will also use their building as a training facility for union workers interested in learning how to install solar electric systems. See the PowerLight press release.

The new IBEW headquarters has been designated a "green building" model by San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and the city's City Council. It will serve as a showcase illustrating environmentally responsible technologies that can be incorporated into future construction projects, as well as retrofits to existing buildings. The green building concept is gaining the interest of many builders, as illustrated by the Third National Green Building Conference, held in Seattle last week. News from this conference is available on the Web site of the National Association of Home Builders Research Center.

DaimlerChrysler to Deliver 30 Fuel Cell Buses to Europe
Up to 30 fuel-cell-powered buses will be delivered to European bus operators beginning in late 2002, DaimlerChrysler announced last week. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses will be 12 meters (about 40 feet) long, carrying 70 passengers with a range of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles). The maximum speed is 80 kilometers (50 miles) per hour. See the press release.

The agreement marks the first commercial sale of fuel-cell- powered vehicles, and meets a commitment the company made roughly one year ago. See the April 12, 2000, edition of the EREN Network News.

Fuel-cell vehicles have been making news in recent weeks, with Toyota Motor Corporation introducing its latest prototype, the FCHV-3, and BMW and Delphi Automotive Systems unveiling a vehicle that uses a solid oxide fuel cell. See the Toyota press release.

See the Delphi Automotive press release.

Need to know more about how fuel-cell-powered vehicles work? The U.S. Fuel Cell Council has posted an excellent primer, "Fuel Cell Power for Transportation Systems" (PDF 1.3 MB).

Ohio Green Power Deal Finalized; Wind, Solar Plants Planned
An agreement for 400,000 residences in Ohio to buy green power was finalized in mid-March. Green Mountain Energy Company was able to meet the terms of the agreement made in February with the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC). NOPEC brought together the residents of more than 100 Ohio communities to form the agreement as a group — a process known as "aggregation." By doing this, NOPEC was able to achieve discounted power for the group, even though 98 percent of the power will come from natural gas and 2 percent will come from renewable energy sources. As part of the agreement, Green Mountain Energy Company will establish a wind power facility and a commercial solar facility to service the NOPEC customers. See the NOPEC press release.

Green Mountain Energy Company has also received approval to supply green power to 50,000 households in the Philadelphia area. See the company's press release.

Energy Star Recognizes 39 Energy-Saving Trendsetters
The Energy Star program recognized 39 corporate, non- profit, and governmental leaders for their contributions to energy-saving technologies in an award ceremony last week. Christie Whitman, Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), presented the awards. Among the recipients was IBM Corporation, which won the "Excellence in Corporate Commitment" award for both developing energy-efficient products and committing to energy performance in its manufacturing facilities worldwide. The annual award program, sponsored by DOE and EPA, is in its ninth year. See the Energy Star Web site.

"Clean Snowmobile Challenge 2001" Under Way in Wyoming
Is it possible to build a cleaner, quieter snowmobile that still performs up to expectations? An answer may come from the "Clean Snowmobile Challenge," an annual collegiate design competition sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Fourteen student teams have designed and built cleaner, quieter snowmobiles, which will be run through a series of competitions to test their emissions, fuel economy, acceleration, cold-start ability, hill climbing and handling. This year's competition is now under way in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and results will be posted daily on the SAE Web site.

Cleaner and quieter snowmobiles may be on the minds of many snowmobile enthusiasts, as noise and pollution concerns have recently led the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to propose bans or restrictions on the use of snowmobiles in several national parks, including Yellowstone and Grand Teton. See, for instance, the following NPS press release from January of this year.

Site News

International Cogeneration Alliance
The International Cogeneration Alliance (ICA) is an industry federation working to promote sustainable economic development and energy market modernization through the wider use of high-efficiency cogeneration systems. The site publicizes upcoming conferences, provides an overview of cogeneration and its benefits, and makes available papers, articles and essays on the subject.

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

Power Supply Problems Threaten Pacific Northwest
The Northwest Power Planning Council (NPPC) announced yesterday that the continuing dry spell in the Pacific Northwest is leading to a bleak outlook for hydropower production in 2001. In what is "shaping up as the driest or second-driest (year) on record in the region," the NPPC concludes that a reduction in the amount of water spilled over the Columbia and Snake river dams this spring and summer is necessary to ease potential power supply problems. The council acknowledges that this action will make it more difficult for threatened and endangered species of salmon and steelhead to migrate to the ocean this year.

Along with making it through the summer, the council is concerned about the ability to refill the reservoirs in time to meet peak power needs next winter. To avoid power shortages, the council says the changes in hydropower operations need to be combined with a number of other actions, including accelerated energy conservation, demand- reduction efforts, and installation of emergency generators. See the NPPC press release.

Study Provides Direct Confirmation of Greenhouse Effect
A study published in the March 15th edition of Nature claims to provide the first direct, observational evidence that the Earth's greenhouse effect increased in the past 30 years. The study compared satellite measurements of infrared radiation from 1970 with similar measurements made in 1997 and showed that the amount of outgoing radiation has changed. According to the researchers, the change in outgoing radiation implies a change in the way greenhouse gases are trapping heat within the atmosphere. The study also showed that changes could be correlated with the spectra of known greenhouse gases. The study was performed at the Imperial College in London. See the Imperial College press release.

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