1. Home
  2. Articles posted by: Rona Fried (Page 1596)

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:August 16, 2006

News and EventsDOE and USDA Award $5.7 Million for Biofuels Research Keynote Speakers Announced for National Renewable Energy Conference USDA Awards $9 Million in Grants and Loan Guarantees for Clean Energy California Utility to buy 500 Megawatts of Solar Thermal Power U.S. Wind Power Capacity Hits 10 Gigawatts New York State Aims to Convert its Hybrid Fleet to Plug-Ins Site NewsDOE Launches Web Site and Solicitation for Loan Guarantee Program Energy ConnectionsDOE to Fund Studies of Hydrogen Production from Nuclear PowerNews and EventsDOE and USDA Award $5.7 Million for Biofuels ResearchDOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that they have awarded nine grants totaling $5.7 million for research in biofuels. The research will focus on genomics that will allow woody plant tissues such as alfalfa, sorghum, wheat, and other grasses to be grown in large quantities to produce renewable fuels, including ethanol. DOE granted $3.9 million to six projects, and USDA has granted $1.8 million to three projects, all of which will be supported for up to three years. The awardees include six universities in Indiana, Texas, Wisconsin, New York, North Carolina, Kansas, and Georgia; two non-profit research organizations in Oklahoma and Washington, D.C.; and DOE’s […]

Read More

FuelCell Energy Receives $2.5M Navy Contract

The U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NasdaqNM: FCEL) an additional $2.5 million to complete a land-based demonstration of its ship service fuel cell (SSFC) power plant and begin design work on a next generation ship-based prototype. The goal of this project is to improve the power generation efficiency on board ships also known as ship hotel power, by using high-efficiency fuel cell technology. To meet the Navy’s ship board power requirements, FuelCell Energy is adapting its Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plants to run on naval liquid fuels (diesel and jet fuel). These liquid fuels, while convenient for storage on board ships, need to be de-sulfurized before being used as fuel in the DFC plant. As a result, FuelCell Energy has developed a fuel processing system that seamlessly removes the sulfur and converts the liquids into methane gas, which can be used as a fuel in the power plant — providing secure, 24/7 firm reliable power. This award funds a proof-of-concept land-based demonstration of a carbonate SSFC power plant that will operate at much greater efficiencies than the Navy’s traditional power plants such as diesel generators. In addition, DFC power plants offer the additional advantage […]

Read More

Maxwell, Alcoa Sign Cold Start System MoU

Alcoa AFL Automotive and Maxwell Technologies (Nasdaq: MXWL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of a cold start system for the commercial transportation market. The companies will incorporate Maxwell’s BOOSTCAP ultracapacitors with AFL’s power management system to develop an efficient engine starting system. “This phase will focus on the meshing of Alcoa’s and Maxwell’s technologies to produce the cold start system, with a goal of producing a system ready for testing and evaluation by truck OEMs by the end of the first quarter, 2007,” said Allen Zwierzchowski, President, Worldwide Components AFL Automotive. “AFL and Maxwell have been interacting technically for some time, and we have identified cold starting for commercial trucks as a significant market opportunity that the companies have agreed to address through a formal collaboration,” said Dr. Richard Balanson, Maxwell’s president and CEO. “AFL is a highly respected Tier 1 supplier to the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. Their electronic systems design expertise, manufacturing resources and strong worldwide contacts with auto and truck OEMs complement Maxwell’s capabilities as a leading provider of energy storage and power delivery solutions,” Balanson continued. Helps save fuel and emissions; reduces costs to fleet owners Increasing environmental […]

Read More

Spire Reports 2Q 2006 Results

Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR) has reported revenues of $3,895,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared to $7,347,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Net loss was $2,081,000 or $0.26 per basic share for the three months ended June 30, 2006, compared with net income, including the gain on the sale of licenses, of $4,698,000 or $0.69 per basic share for the three months ended June 30, 2005. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2006, were $9,268,000, compared to $11,527,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Net loss was $4,085,000 or $0.54 per basic share for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared with net income, including the gain on the sale of licenses, of $3,118,000 or $0.45 per basic share for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire, said, “This was a tough quarter in comparison to last year. We delivered one major equipment line during first six months compared with two major equipment lines and one major solar system for the same period last year. We have experienced certain delays in customer purchases of our solar equipment due to the current […]

Read More