Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Oct. 30, 2002

*News and Events

*Site News

Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC)

*Energy Facts and Tips

Report: U.S. Energy Use Dropped 2.4 Percent in 2001

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NEWS AND EVENTS

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DOE and EPA Release Fuel Economy Guide for Model Year 2003

DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released yesterday the estimated fuel efficiencies for all U.S. passenger vehicles for Model Year 2003. The “Fuel Economy Guide 2003” ranks the vehicles by fuel efficiency within each class, and the online version allows users to make side-by-side comparisons of vehicles.

For 2003, hybrid electric vehicles continue to lead the list of fuel-efficient vehicles, with the manual and automatic versions of the Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, and Toyota Prius topping the list. Interestingly enough, diesel-fueled Volkswagens follow close behind the hybrids, and among conventional gasoline-fueled vehicles, only the Toyota Echo lands on the top-ten list. But if you own a Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, or Maserati, you just might find your vehicle at the bottom of the list. See the DOE and EPA press releases at:
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The Fuel Economy Guide Web site also provides information about alternative-fueled vehicles and all-electric vehicles, including the latest news on federal tax incentives for these vehicles. http://www.fueleconomy.gov

While helping people find the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market today, DOE is also looking ahead to the future. On November 12th and 13th, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham will host the “Global Forum on Personal Transportation” in Dearborn, Michigan. Secretary Abraham has invited about 100 senior government, industry, and academic officials, including representatives of the automotive, hydrogen, energy, and fuel cell industries. The international forum will address the future of energy-efficient personal transportation and include representatives from Japan, Germany, France, Belgium, India, China, Mexico, Canada, Austria, and the Netherlands.

The forum will open with a plenary session followed by discussion groups focusing on such topics as fuel cell vehicles, future fuel options, improvements in internal combustion engines, and the cost of energy efficiency throughout the world. Secretary Abraham will deliver the luncheon keynote address on November 12th.
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Automotive Electronics Companies Advance Hybrid Technologies

While U.S. car companies continue to lag behind their Japanese competitors regarding hybrid-electric vehicles, several U.S. companies that specialize in automotive electronics appear to be making significant advances. That progress was evident at last week’s “Convergence 2002,” an automotive electronics conference held in Detroit, Michigan. Dana Corporation and Delphi Corporation both introduced systems that integrate a starter and alternator, allowing vehicles to automatically halt the engine when at a stop, and Paice Corporation introduced high-voltage power semiconductors that it claims will make more efficient, high-voltage hybrid vehicle systems a practical reality. Among other energy-saving technologies introduced at the conference were electronic steering systems and “intelligent” cooling and lubrication systems. See the Convergence 2002 press releases at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

But don’t start thinking that the U.S. car companies aren’t contributing as well: In early October, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation announced that they will work together to develop a front-wheel-drive, six-speed automatic transmission. The new transmission is expected to yield a 4 to 8 percent improvement in fuel economy over today’s traditional 4-speed automatic transmissions. The companies expect the transmission to be available in large-engine vehicles between 2005 and 2010.
See the GM press release: [sorry this link is no longer available]

Automotive Companies Pave Way for LEDs and “Smart” Windows

Automotive accessories suppliers are often the first to adopt new technologies — solar-powered fans for sunroofs, for instance, are now available for some Audi and Mercedes-Benz models. And Gentex Corporation provided another example when it began shipping automatically dimming rearview mirrors, including white-light LED map lights, in late August. The LED lights use only 0.6 watts each, compared to standard 4.25-watt lamps that typically require venting and bulky optics. The mirrors dim themselves using electrochromic glass, which becomes dark when a current is applied to it. But that technology is old hat to Gentex — they’ve been selling self-dimming
mirrors since 1987. [sorry this link is no longer available]

The real question for these technologies, at least for energy wonks, is when will they be available in products that affect the average American’s energy use? The answer is, very soon: Recent news suggests that both white-light LEDs and “smart” electrochromic windows are moving ahead in a wider range of commercial products. Universal Display Corporation, for inst
ance, announced in August that it had received two DOE contracts for $100,000 each in order to develop its high-efficiency, organic LED technologies for use as general sources of white light. And in the past month, three companies emerged as likely commercial sources of “smart” windows. SPD Systems, American
Glass Products Group, and Cricursa Cristales Curvados S.A. all bought non-exclusive licenses for smart window technology from Research Frontiers Incorporated. The technology allows users to manually or automatically adjust the amount of light coming through the window. The companies are using the windows for skylights, home windows, appliances, and, of course, in automobiles.See the press releases from Universal Display and Research Frontiers: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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Five Agencies Save $100 Million and Earn Presidential Awards

The 2002 Presidential Awards for Leadership in Federal Energy Management were presented on October 24th to five U.S. federal agencies that demonstrated leadership in energy conservation and saved more than $100 million. The five agencies — the Department of Commerce, the General Services Administration, and the Department of Defense’s Pentagon Renovation Office, Navy Shipboard Energy Conservation Team, and Fort Detrick U.S. Army Base — collectively prevented the emission of roughly 240,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Among the achievements of the five agencies are a 2 percent annual drop in energy use at the Department of Commerce and savings at the other agencies of more than one million barrels of fuel, 17 million gallons of water, and enough energy to heat, cool, and power 10 million square feet of office space.

As the largest U.S. energy consumer, and with more than 500,000 buildings, the federal government is directed under Executive Order 13123 to promote energy conservation through building design, energy efficiency and emerging technologies. The five leading agencies were honored at a special White House ceremony. See the DOE press release: [sorry this link is no longer available]

DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) has the lead responsibility for advancing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation in the federal government. In conjunction with the Presidential energy awards, FEMP presented its own annual “Federal Energy and Water Management Awards” last week. See the award winners on the FEMP Web site: [sorry this link is no longer available]

New Superconductor Wire Beats High Current-Carrying Goal

American Superconductor Corporation announced yesterday that its latest flat wire product made from high-temperature superconductor (HTS) materials significantly exceeds DOE’s goals for carrying current. The company’s 10-meter lengths of tape-like HTS wire can carry at least 100 Amperes of current per centimeter of width, which is more than double DOE’s goal. DOE was aiming for December 2003 when it set the goal, so the company’s achievement is also early. Tests at DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory verified the performance of the company’s second-generation, coated-conductor wire.

American Superconductor expects to continue its rapid pace of development, thanks to a recent $2 million cost-shared grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The grant will go towards a scale-up of its manufacturing process, with the aim of commercially producing limited volumes of the wire by 2005. The company claims the new wire should perform the same as its current HTS wire product, but at as little as one-fifth the cost. See the American Superconductor press releases:
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Three California Wind Facilities Caught Up in Enron Scandal

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced last week that it is investigating three California wind facilities affiliated with Enron Corporation. At issue is whether the small power producing companies in charge of those wind plants — Zond Windsystems Holding Company, Victory Garden Phase IV Partnership, and Sky River Partnership — misrepresented the extent of Enron ownership in their companies.

According to FERC, the three companies applied in May 1997 to be certified as “qualifying facilities,” a status that earns regulatory and financial benefits for power plants. To earn such status, the wind plants had to be owned primarily by a person or company not involved in the sale of electricity (other than the electricity from the wind plants themselves), so Enron could not be the primary owner. To meet that standard, Enron transferred some of all of its interest in the three companies to two partnerships, called “RADR ZWS MM, LLC” and “RADR ZWS, LLC.” However, as noted by FERC, a recent criminal complaint against two former top Enron executives alleges that the two RADR
partnerships were created solely to disguise Enron’s interest in the wind facilities.

FERC will hold a public hearing on the allegations in the near future, after which it will “establish the appropriate remedies.” In the past, FERC has revoked companies’ qualifying facility status and ordered partial refunds of their power proceeds. FERC says that it can also permanently revoke qualifying facility status for the wind facilities, if warranted. See the FERC order:
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SITE NEWS

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Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC): http://www.cchrc.org

The CCHRC facilitates the development, use, and testing of energy-efficient, durable, healthy, and cost-effective building technologies for Alaska and the world’s cold climate regions. According to the CCHRC, Alaska makes an excellent testing ground for cold climate technologies, especially since its cold season lasts six months or longer. Its Web site features information on past and current research projects. The CCHRC was
developed by the Alaska State Home Builders Association.

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ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS

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Report: U.S. Energy Use Dropped 2.4 Percent in 2001

DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Annual Energy Review for 2001 yesterday. The annual review, which includes tables and graphs of U.S. energy use dating back to 1949, finds that U.S. energy use in 2001 dropped by 2.4 percent relative to 2000. A 2.0 percent drop in fossil-fuel use accounts for most of the decrease, although renewable energy use (a relatively small contributor to U.S. energy use) fell a full 12 percent. A 21 percent drop in electricity production from conventional hydropower — most likely due to this summer’s drought — appears
to be the main cause of the fall-off in renewable energy use. Although the report currently includes only charts and graphs, and no verbal analysis, one would expect that a slow U.S. economy and a warmer-than-average winter contributed to the overall decrease in U.S. energy use.

See the Annual Energy Review: [sorry this link is no longer available]

The U.S. energy industry has changed in recent years, and the EIA had to change along with it. EIA announced yesterday that this year’s report no longer attempts to separate electric power plants into utility- and non-utility-owned plants. Instead, due to a growth in combined heat and power (CHP) plants, the report separates power plants into the categories of “electricity only” and CHP. Each CHP plant is listed under the business sector that it serves — whether it be industrial, commercial, or electric power — and the energy used to produce electricity is counted
separately from the energy used to produce heat. See the EIA press release: [sorry this link is no longer available]

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