Green Energy News | November 21, 1999

November 21, 1999 – Vol.4 No.34

ENERGIES... week of November 21, 1999

REJUVENATING HISTORICAL HYDRO. While it may often make sense to remove old, unused hydroelectric plants in an attempt to restore damaged ecosystems, it may also make sense, in some cases, to bring outdated hydro back online to displace power from fossil fuel plants, and add to the supply of renewable energy. In cases where it may impossible to reverse environmental damage done decades ago, restoring and updating old hydro power may be a viable choice.

In North Wales, in the UK, the historic Croesor hydroelectric power station at Blaencwm, Gwynedd has been renovated, updated and put back on the grid to supply green power to more than 200 homes. The 500 kW plant was built more than 100 years ago to supply electricity to local slate quarries.

Because the Croesor station is in the Snowdonia National Park extraordinary care was taken to preserve the site and the natural setting around the power plant. Helicopters were used to airlift building supplies for the renovation. A special minimal damage “walking” digging machine was used to excavate new trenches for pipelines, and new power cables were installed underground. The power house and dam were restored to original detail with local materials.

Croesor has an operating contract under the UK Government’s Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) program to encourage the development of renewable power. The hydroelectric plant is operated by National Power Hydro.

REMOTE ENERGY MANAGEMENT. The simplest way to save energy is to not use it. Lights burning in empty rooms waste resources. Pleasantly warm or cool vacant buildings squander power.

OpenPLANET was devised as a combination software and hardware system to integrate information and control systems for remote monitoring of any electric device or machine. Developed by Mitsubishi Electric and Hitachi Ltd, OpenPLANET can be used for tasks such as automated meter reading, home and industry energy management, building automation and remote power disconnect/ reconnect - virtually any situation where it would be beneficial to monitor and control equipment from a distance.

OpenPLANET was developed to work with existing systems and is considered a plug-and play design by the developers.

MICROTURBINE COGENERATION. Thermal energy efficiency rises when waste heat from combustion is put to work. For example, through cogeneration hot exhaust gases from a microturbine generator can be used to produce hot water or provide ambient air heating and cooling.

Capstone Turbine is entering the next phase of market development, and even greater efficiency, for its Model 330 MicroTurbine (tm). Capstone has teamed with G.A.S. Energietechnik to further develop microturbine cogeneration systems fueled by natural gas, landfill and other waste gases. As a result of the collaboration, Capstone will soon introduce its MicroGAS(tm) cogeneration package to be sold as an accessory to the Model 330.

G.A.S. has developed and installed over 350 landfill gas power generating plants and approximately 100 digester and natural gas small-scale power plants. Visit G.A.S. at http://www.gas-energie.de/ and Capstone at http://www.capstoneturbine.com/ .