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EREN NETWORK NEWS -- September 4, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
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Featuring:
*News and Events
World Summit Plan Promotes Renewables Without a Set Target
World Governments, Organizations to Promote Clean Energy Use
Toyota Teams with Nissan on Hybrids; Ford Backs Off on EVs
California Deploys a 470-Kilowatt Solar Power System
First Nebraska Wind Plant Completed; Wind Activities
Accelerate Nationwide
Green Power Faces Challenges in L.A. and Connecticut
Engineers Develop Process to Make Hydrogen from Glucose
*Site News
Advanced Building Systems Integration Consortium
*Energy Facts and Tips
Canada's Intent to Ratify Kyoto Boosts the Accord's Chances
*About this Newsletter
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NEWS AND EVENTS
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World Summit Plan Promotes Renewables Without a Set Target
Government delegates at the World Summit on Sustainable Development
reached agreement on Monday on a Plan of Implementation that
includes measures to promote renewable energy. Although the plan
calls for countries to act "with a sense of urgency" to
substantially increase the global use of renewable energy, and also
commits to phase out subsidies for non-sustainable energy sources,
it fails to set a specific renewable energy target. The debate over
whether to include a target was one of the most contentious during
the summit.
"The issue of a target for renewable energy was a worthwhile goal,"
said Summit Secretary-General Nitin Desai, "but the reality is that
with sustained action, we can build up the renewable energy
industries to the point where they have the critical mass to compete
with fossil fuel-generated energy. We have a commitment to make it
happen and now we need the follow-through."
See the United Nations press releases (in Adobe PDF format only) at:
<http://www.un.org/events/wssd/pressreleases/completenegotiations.pdf>
and <http://www.un.org/events/wssd/pressreleases/Desai.pdf>.
Delegates are expected to officially adopt the draft Plan of
Implementation today, during the final session of the summit. See
the draft plan at:
<http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/summit_docs.html>.
World Governments, Organizations to Promote Clean Energy Use
A number of governments and private organizations made specific
commitments during the World Summit on Sustainable Development to
show their support for renewable energy. For instance, a group of
nine major electric companies signed agreements to undertake
sustainable energy projects in developing countries. In addition,
the European Union (EU) announced a $700 million partnership
initiative on energy. See the United Nations press release (in Adobe
PDF format only) at:
<http://www.un.org/events/wssd/pressreleases/completenegotiations.pdf>
See also the EU World Summit Web site at:
<http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/wssd/index_en.html>.
For its part, the United States committed to provide $43 million in
2003 for a "Clean Energy Initiative," which will aim to provide
millions of people with access to new energy services, to increase
the efficiency of energy use, and reduce deaths from air pollution
by changing the way people use energy for transportation and in
their homes. The United States expects to attract an additional
$400 million in investments in the initiative through partnerships
with other governments and organizations. See the U.S. State
Department press release at:
<http://www.state.gov/g/oes/sus/13023.htm>.
DOE is contributing to the initiative through its Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). International projects are
now being conducted by EERE in countries such as the Ukraine,
Poland, Russia, China, India, the Philippines, Mexico, Brazil,
Chile, Peru, and Ghana. Specific projects are listed in the DOE press
release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/augpr/pr02180.htm>.
The United Nations is also launching a new initiative, called the
Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development (GNESD).
Initially comprising ten centers in ten developed and developing
countries, the GNESD will help promote the research, transfer, and
deployment of green and cleaner energy technologies to the
developing world. See the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) press release, in Adobe PDF format only, at:
<http://www.unepie.org/outreach/wssd/docs/NR2002-energy.pdf>.
The GNESD announcement followed the UNEP's release last week of a
report detailing how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can work
together with entrepreneurs to jump-start clean energy enterprises
in developing countries. The report documents a successful
$8.6 million initiative that partnered the UNEP, the U.N.
Foundation, a U.S. non-profit clean energy investor called E+Co, and
a number of local NGOs in developing countries. The initiative
successfully launched new clean energy enterprises in Brazil, China
and five African countries. See the UNEP press release at:
<http://www.unepie.org/outreach/wssd/docs/pressrelease3008.pdf>.
Toyota Teams with Nissan on Hybrids; Ford Backs Off on EVs
Toyota Motor Corporation announced on Monday that it is teaming up
with Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. to produce hybrid electric vehicles.
Initially, Toyota will supply Nissan with a hybrid system currently
under development for use in Nissan vehicles to be sold in the
United States in 2006. Nissan expects to sell 100,000 hybrid
vehicles per year by 2011.
The partners plan to maintain a business relationship for 10 years
or longer by sharing technical information and jointly developing
hybrid electric components. Although Toyota is currently the largest
producer of hybrid vehicles with cumulative sales of 120,000
vehicles, Nissan sold a limited number of Tino Hybrid models in 2000
and has operated a department to develop hybrid technologies since
February 2001. See the Toyota press release at:
<http://toyota.irweb.jp/IRweb/corp_info/pr/2002/0902.html>.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company took a step backward by announcing
that it will shut down its TH!NK electric vehicle (EV) division.
Ford was producing a small neighborhood EV, the TH!NK Neighbor, in
the United States, but the larger and more practical TH!NK City was
only available through small pilot programs. Ford originally planned
to sell the TH!NK City -- a two-seater with a top speed of 56 miles
per hour and a range of up to 53 miles -- in the United States next
year. The Ford decision directly affects Ballard Power Systems,
which was to provide the electric drive system for the U.S. version
of the TH!NK City, but Ballard claims the decision will not have an
impact on its expected revenues for 2002. See the Ballard press
release, in Adobe PDF format only, at:
<http://www.ballard.com/pdfs/21%20Think%20City%20Final%20v1_0.PDF>.
For more information about TH!NK vehicles, see the Web site at:
<http://www.thinkmobility.com/>.
The Ford announcement comes just as the New York Power Authority
(NYPA) and the Municipal Electric Utilities Association of New York
State are launching a cooperative effort to promote EVs in the
state. The organizations kicked off the effort with a showcase of
several hybrid and electric vehicles, including a TH!NK Neighbor and
a TH!NK City. The TH!NK City is currently being used in a trial
program that leases the cars to rail commuters for their ride
between home and the rail station. See the NYPA press release at:
<http://www.nypa.gov/press/020828b.htm>.
See also the press release from the Long Island Power Authority at:
<http://www.lipower.org/newscenter/pr/2002/aug28.html>.
And see the NYPA/TH!NK Clean Commute Program at:
<http://www.nypa.gov/ev/default.htm>.
California Deploys a 470-Kilowatt Solar Power System
The State of California unveiled last week a new 470-kilowatt solar
power system on the roof of its Franchise Tax Board headquarters in
Sacramento. The 50,000-square-foot photovoltaic system will provide
about half of the power needs for the building. PowerLight
Corporation designed and manufactured the system and installed it in
less than six weeks. See the press release from the California
Department of General Services at:
<http://www.dgs.ca.gov/News/SolarElectric.htm>.
First Nebraska Wind Plant Completed; Wind Activities
Accelerate Nationwide
Construction of the first utility-scale wind facility in Nebraska
was completed last week. The Tennessee Valley Infrastructure Group
Inc. (TVIG) announced that the 10.5-megawatt wind plant should begin
commercial operation on October 1st. The project was commissioned by
the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska. See the TVIG press release
at: <http://www.tvigroup.com/Kimball%20Release82802.html>.
A flurry of wind power activity has been occurring across the United
States. In North Dakota, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (MDU) is
proposing to develop the state's first wind power facility. Dakota I
Power Partners will pursue a 20-megawatt wind plant in Dickey
County, located in the southeast part of the state. In New York, the
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is pursuing its proposed offshore
wind plant by requesting input from potential offshore wind power
developers. Governor George E. Pataki also announced that the New
York Power Authority is seeking proposals to develop 50 megawatts of
wind power in the state. And finally, US WindForce announced a joint
venture with Padoma Wind Power to develop as much as 1500 megawatts
of wind energy projects, involving 10 or more project locations,
over the next 5 years in the Mid-Atlantic region. See the press
releases from MDU, LIPA, Governor Pataki, and US WindForce,
respectively, at:
<http://www.mdu.com/newsfiles/Q3_02/Q3_02_WIND.html>,
<http://www.lipower.org/newscenter/pr/2002/aug21.html>,
<http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/year02/aug21_4_02.htm>, and
<http://uswindforce.com/default.asp?pg=news&pg2=10>.
The large number of wind facilities currently being planned has led
the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) to predict that 2003
will be a record year for wind power development. Although 2002
shows a slight dip, with only 400 to 450 megawatts of new wind power
capacity, AWEA is predicting that 2,000 megawatts of new capacity
will be installed in 2003. See the AWEA press release at:
<http://www.awea.org/news/news020814mkt.html>.
Green Power Faces Challenges in L.A. and Connecticut
The Los Angeles Department of Power and Water's Green Power Program
is under fire after an audit released last week by the City
Controller found that the program needs new overall management and
an improved marketing plan. The audit found that a microturbine
project dedicated in August 2001 is still not operating, only 7 of
27 electric buses are currently running, and 80 percent of the
energy-efficient refrigerators purchased by the program have not
been distributed. The Controller maintained that the program is a
good idea, but provided 24 recommendations to improve the program.
Green power was also dealt a blow in Connecticut in late August,
when the Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC) announced that
the Connecticut Energy Cooperative is ceasing operations. The
cooperative's 11,000 customers will be returned to their traditional
utility for electric power service. In November 2000, the
cooperative was hailed as the first alternative power supplier in
the state. Fortunately, other companies continue to offer green
power to electric customers in the state. See the August 21st
announcement by selecting "News Releases" on the DPUC Web site at:
<http://www.state.ct.us/dpuc/whatshot.htm>.
The news is sure to be a topic of discussion at the Seventh National
Green Power Marketing Conference, to be held from September 30th
through October 2nd in Washington, D.C. See the conference Web site
on EREN at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/conference/index.html>.
Engineers Develop Process to Make Hydrogen from Glucose
Chemical engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have
developed a new process to produce hydrogen from glucose, a sugar
produced by many plants. The process shows particular promise
because it occurs at low temperatures in the liquid phase, so it
does not require the energy needed to heat and vaporize the glucose
solution. The low temperature also yields very little carbon
monoxide, which can damage fuel cells. In fact, the process produces
fuel-cell-grade hydrogen in a single step. However, the researchers
note that improvements are needed to improve the hydrogen yields
from the process and to reduce the cost of the catalyst.
Glucose is manufactured in vast quantities from corn starch, but can
also be derived from sugar beets or low-cost waste streams like
paper mill sludge, cheese whey, corn stover or wood waste. The
research was published in last week's edition of the journal Nature.
See the university's press release at:
<http://www.news.wisc.edu/releases/view.html?id=7766>.
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SITE NEWS
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Advanced Building Systems Integration Consortium
<http://weld.arc.cmu.edu/cbpd/html/absic/>
The Advanced Building Systems Integration Consortium is a program
established at Carnegie Mellon University to advance the North
American building industry through research, development and
demonstrations designed to increase the quality of commercial and
integrated building systems. One of its current projects is the
7000-square-foot Intelligent Workplace, also known as the "office of
the future."
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ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
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Canada's Intent to Ratify Kyoto Boosts the Accord's Chances
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien surprised the World Summit on
Sustainable Development on Monday when he announced Canada's
intention to submit the Kyoto Accord to the Canadian Parliament for
a vote on ratification before the end of the year. Prime Minister
Chretien noted that Canada is finalizing a plan of implementation to
meet the objectives of the global warming treaty and will proceed
with the ratification vote once that process is finished. See the
Prime Minister's September 2nd address on his Web site at:
<http://pm.gc.ca/default.asp?Language=E&Page=newsroom&Sub=Speeches>.
The announcement increases the chances that the treaty could go into
effect. If Canada ratifies the Kyoto Accord, only Russia's
ratification is needed to enter the treaty into force. However,
Russia continues to waver in its stance on ratification. See the
United Nation's "Kyoto Thermometer" at:
<http://unfccc.int/resource/kpthermo_if.html>.
Although the World Summit largely avoided the subject of the Kyoto
Protocol, the draft Plan of Implementation does include a brief
mention, urging countries that have not yet ratified the treaty to
do so in a timely manner. See page 21 of the draft plan at:
<http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/summit_docs.html>.
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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
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