Green Energy News | October 1, 2000

October 1, 2000 – Vol.5 No.27

ENERGIES... week of October 1, 2000

RECORD BOOK FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE. The EVictory from EVonyx has set a Guinness World Record - 217 miles - for the longest run on a single fueling in a modified production vehicle powered by a fuel cell. And the fuel cell was powered by zinc, not hydrogen.

The modified Honda Insight was supposed to run from outside New York City to Detroit without refueling, but only made it Howard, Pennsylvania. A technical glitch brought the car to a halt, not a lack of fuel. Engineers from EVonyx determined that there was enough energy remaining to complete the trip. The zinc-air powered Insight, (one of two developed) was chosen for its sleek aerodynamics and light-weight body shell. Voiding the warranty,the stock hybrid drive train was pulled out and tossed aside. If commercialized the cost of zinc fuel for the journey would be about $4.

EVonyx calls its metal-air fuel cell the RPC (tm) for Revolutionary Power Cell. The RPC, when in production, would be both refuelable and be rechargeable from an electric power connection. Spent oxidized zinc fuel would be recycled for reuse. The fuel cell is also designed to run on a variety of other metals.

According to the company, metal-air fuel cells have been under research and development for 30 years, but only recent technology improvements have increased power density dramatically. The EVonyx fuel cell operates at room temperature and is environmentally benign. Visit EVonyx at http://www.evonyx.com/ .

THE GREEN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION - UK. The United Kingdom would be on the front lines of this tremendous economic opportunity, if the UK’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) gets its way. To set the groundwork for action, the DTI has published its own Sustainable Development Strategy along with a Renewable Obligation.

One possibility under the Obligation is capital grants for the development of offshore wind power and energy crops. The Obligation is a consultation paper which individuals, special interests and businesses can respond to.

The Conservative party, which would like to replace the Labor government, also wants to march in the Green Revolution. Their ambitious targets include raising renewable energy for power generation to 30 percent by 2030, up from 10 percent by 2010 now proposed. Other efforts would include encouraging grid-connected solar power and allow homeowners and businesses to sell excess electricity to utility companies. Tax incentives for greener vehicles would be offered and 100 percent tax breaks for investment in wind, solar power and other renewables. For the Strategy and the Renewable Obligation visit the DTI at http://www.dti.gov.uk/ .

NATIONS’ LARGEST WIND PROJECTS - TO DATE. Tomen Corporation will build the largest wind power project yet in Japan. The 32.5 megawatt wind farm will be built in northeastern Japan and have 25, 1300 kilowatt wind generators supplied by Bonus Energy of Denmark.

In Australia, the largest to date will be built by Western Power. The project near the City of Albany will have 12 turbines and supply enough power for 17,000 homes or 75% of the City’s power needs. Visit and Western power at http://www.westernpower.com.au/ .