Green Energy News | May 24, 1998

May 24, 1998 – Vol.3 No.8

ENERGIES... week of May 24, 1998

POWER BEYOND THE GRID. In a new agreement, GE Power Systems will be the global distributor of Elliott Energy Systems line of Turbo Alternators - liquid or gaseous fueled microturbine generators. GE is seeking the market for baseload, peak shaving and cogeneration applications (hot exhaust gases might heat water for example). In countries where grid supplied power is well developed microturbine generators offer alternative power. In developing countries microturbines can supply electricity to end users without a grid connection.

According to GE-EES the Turbo Alternators are 30% efficient (before cogeneration possibilities) and power can be supplied to customers at 5.5-6.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Three units tuned for natural gas will be initially available; a 45kW unit at $28,500, a 80kW at $47,500 and a 200kW unit at $82,500. Installation and servicing are extra and prices should drop with popularity.

GE Power Systems is based in Schenectady, New York and ESS in Stuart,Florida. GE will be the exclusive distributor for ESS in all countries except Japan and Germany. AlliedSignal Power Systems of Morristown, New Jersey is offering similar products.

FUEL CELL MARKET EXPANDS. In two separate business agreements, Ballard Power Systems of Vancouver, British Columbia,will gain marketing and manufacturing expertise for stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe and Japan.

In a $30 million transaction with EBARA Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, Ballard will be able to sell, distribute and later manufacture its PEM (proton exchange membrane) stationary power plants in the Japanese market. For its part EBARA plans to build zero-emission energy systems using the Ballard fuel cell fueled by methane gas from water and waste treatment facilities.

In a $76 million transaction Ballard and GEC ALSTHOM of France will create ALSTHOM BGS exclusively for the sale, distribution and eventual manufacture of Ballard’s fuel cell power plants on the continent. Ballard will initially build a production facility in Canada to build 250 kW power plants for the alliance.

LUNCH UNDER A SOLAR ROOF. Students at the Alamitos Intermediate School in Garden Grove, California can now dine while 10 kilowatts of clean, noiseless electricity are produced over their heads. The outdoor lunch shelter, with seating for 300, is connected to a closed electrical system within school’s campus.

The structure has 168 photovoltaic (PV) panels and was built with the assistance of Edison Technology Solutions (ETS) as part of their Solar Neighborhood Program. The Program aims to bring solar energy to the local level where consumers can use and appreciate it. Visit ETS at http://www.edisonx.com/ .