Green Energy News | March 14, 1999

March 14, 1999 – Vol.3 No.50

ENERGIES... week of March 14, 1999

SOLAR POWERS BALLOONISTS. Solar modules from Solarex of Frederick, Maryland helped balloonists Bertrand Piccard and Bryan Jones circumnavigate the planet - and into world record books. Twenty specially-designed “Ultralight” modules were suspended beneath the Breitling Orbiter 3’s gondola to power satellite navigation and communications systems, as well as provide energy for lighting and hot water. The modules functioned perfectly throughout epic voyage. Visit Solarex at http://www.solarex.com or the Orbiter site at http://www.breitling-orbiter.ch/ .

ARCHITECT’S DELIGHT. Siemens Solar has announced the immediate availability of two new CIS (Copper Indium DiSelenide) thin film modules. The ST20 (20 Watt) is suited for low power requirements, but the ST40 (38 Watt) can be used with grid-connected systems. The matt-black modules, homogeneous in appearance, should work well into the architectural design and integration of solar systems.

WHITE LIGHT LED’S. Energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs haven’t exactly been a smash hit with consumers. Now both Siemens and Hewlett-Packard have developed white-light LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) that might soon create a real market challenge to incandescent bulbs.

While white LEDs introduced by both companies are designed for low level or electronic illumination, Siemens envisions energy-efficient and long lasting LEDs that can compete with incandescent bulbs for room illumination in 3-5 years.

NEW ELECTRIC CAR 4. This week DaimlerChrysler presented its first drivable fuel cell car in the U.S. to the press at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. The NECAR 4 (New Electric Car) is powered by liquid hydrogen and has a range of 280 miles per full cryogenic cylinder. Driven inside the building with no risk of noxious fumes, the car will not be sold to the general public because of the difficulty in storing and refueling liquid hydrogen. Fleets however are a possibility. The fuel cell engine was provided by dbb fuel cell engines, the electric drive train by Ecostar Electric Drive Systems.

It is said that one of the first acts of President Ronald Reagan (no fan of green energy) was to have the solar thermal panels removed from the roof of the White House. Visit the NECAR at http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com .

METHANOL OR ETHANOL? While DaimlerChrysler plans to use reformed methanol to power other fuel cell vehicles, a maker of reformers (which extract hydrogen from liquid fuels to power fuel cells) is leaning towards ethanol. According to Epyx Corporation, ethanol provides higher efficiencies, fewer emissions and better performance than other fuels. According to related trade associations, both fuels can be made from renewable resources. Visit the American Methanol Association at http://www.methanol.org and the Renewable Fuels Association at http://www.ethanolRFA.org/ .