Green Energy News | October 10, 1999

October 10, 1999 – Vol.4 No.28

ENERGIES... week of October 10, 1999

HYDROPOWER IN THE BALANCE. Should existing hydropower projects be closed, or operate under reduced capacity to meet local environmental concerns? Or should they continue to supply renewable energy to full capacity, possibly displacing power generated from dirtier sources which create their own set of environmental problems?

In the past 10 years the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has renewed licenses on more than 160 projects, yet in the process two-thirds of them lost generating capacity under relicensing restrictions, according to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

EEI has joined more than 300 hydro producers, municipalities, environmental groups and others that comprise WaterPower: The Clean Energy Coalition. WaterPower hopes to convince the U.S. Congress to take a second look at hydropower relicensing with the goal of striking a better balance in the environment-hydropower debate.

Lawler, Matusky and Skelly Engineers is offering its expertise to help hydropower firms through the relicensing process. Among the guidelines - get to know the people and problems related to the hydropower project long before licensing comes up for renewal. Visit and Lawler, Matusky and Skelly at http://www.lmseng.com/ .

FUEL CELL SHORTS. DaimlerChrysler and Nippon Mitsubishi Oil will study refueling infrastructure options for fuel cell vehicles in Japan. Nippon already has 29 vehicle refueling/recharging “EcoStations” that supply a choice of electricity, natural gas, methanol or liquid petroleum gas (LPG). Initially DaimlerChrysler will test methanol powered fuel cell vehicles with the EcoStations, then move on to other fuels.

Ballard Power Systems affiliate “dbb fuel cell engines” has unveiled its new fuel cell bus engine, the Phase 4 (P4). The 275 hp (205 kilowatt) engine is 4000 lb (about 2000 kilograms) lighter and has fewer components than the P3 model. Some off-the-shelf parts, too, make it easier to service. The P4 will enter fuel scale commercialization by 2002 according to dbb. Visit Ballard at http://www.ballard.com/ .

Proton Energy Systems has been selected to receive a NASA Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract for the further development of its Zero Gravity - PEM Regenerative Fuel Cell Energy Storage System.

The System works like a typical PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell, but an external electrical connection can be used to split waste water back into hydrogen and oxygen for reuse. This version of Proton’s regenerative fuel cell could be used in space-based applications for back-up power supply. For terrestrial purposes fuels such as natural gas could also power the fuel cell.

The SBIR program aims to help finance technologies being developed strictly by small businesses. Other U.S. government agencies also offer the program. Visit NASA SBIR at http://sbir.nasa.gov/ and Proton Energy Systems at http://www.protonenergy.com/ .

FUN WITH EV’S. Maybe if children grow up with electric vehicles they’ll demand them as adults. Kango Electric Vehicles is now offering its K1 and K 1.2 one and two seater electric go-karts. Aside from being clean and quiet, the electric drive has a parent-controlled speed limiter and the kart will not operate unless a derriere is in the driver’s seat. The go-karts can be driven in reverse, unlike gas engined ones.