Green Energy News | October 19, 1997

October 19, 1997 – Vol.2 No.29

ENERGIES... week of October 19, 1997

THE GASOLINE FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY announcement this week from the U.S. Department of Energy, Arthur D. Little and Plug Power L.L.C. was aimed to coincide with President Clinton’s position on cutbacks in greenhouse gas emissions. The President has been looking toward new technologies and markets as key elements in the proposed U.S. commitment on global warming. Used in cars, gasoline fuel economy with the fuel cell could at least double.

The heart of the new fuel cell is the reformer, a device that extracts hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrogen from the reformer is then mixed with oxygen in the air. The result is spare electrons, to flow as electricity, and water. Pollutants are minimal since nothing is burned.

The downside of the fuel cell is that in the reforming process, CO2 is released. However, the efficiency of the fuel cell and electric drive system would at least halve CO2 emissions compared to an internal combustion engine in the same automobile.

The reformer based fuel cell fits nicely into the existing liquid and gas energy infrastructure. Aside from gasoline, ethanol can also be used in the reforming process. Ethanol is a renewable energy source and according to Arthur D. Little is actually preferred over gasoline. It would provide even greater efficiencies, fewer emissions of CO2 and perform better. Plug Power is also considering natural gas powered fuel cells for use in homes and larger ones for grid connection.

Check out the Renewable Fuels Association web site at http://www.ethanolrfa.org/

COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES for fuel efficiency in automobiles may be more palatable in the real world - and they’re ready for the market soon. Gasoline and diesel hybrid electric cars from Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Audi offer the same kind of fuel economy that the new fuel cell offers, but without the whiz-bang science. There’s nothing under the hood of one of these hybrid cars that the corner garage couldn’t fix. The internal combustion engine, batteries, electric motor and charging system are all familiar technologies to today’s mechanic.

Some of the hybrid cars will be on the market next year. The reformer based fuel cell technology might take ten years or more before it hits the pavement.

HOME APPLIANCE manufacturers are already doing their bit to cut energy use, according the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Compared with models sold in 1980, some of today’s refrigerators and freezers use 48% less electricity, room air conditioners and dishwashers 28% less and washers 14% less. Some new front-loading washers also use far less water, another vital resource.