Green Energy News | October 15, 2000

October 15, 2000 – Vol.5 No.29

ENERGIES... week of October 15, 2000

URBAN WIND POWER. Those living in metropolitan areas have grown accustomed to a wide variety of man-made structures that soar into the sky. Cell phone towers, smoke stacks and radio-TV antennas are all part of the skyline. Where the wind is reliable, why not install wind generators near urban areas? Toronto Hydro Energy Services and the Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative plan to do just that.

The companies have issued a call for suppliers to construct two utility scale turbines on the Toronto/Lake Ontario shoreline. The plan calls for each generator to supply 1400 megawatt-hours per year to meet the electricity demand of 250 households. Wind energy suppliers have until November 10, 2000 to respond. Visit Toronto Hydro at http://www.torontohydro.com/ and Toronto Renewable Energy at http://www.trec.on.ca/ .

WIND FOR WISCONSIN. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Enron Wind Corporation is planning to build a 30 megawatt windfarm in Iowa County. Though details aren’t specific, the facility would have 20 turbines, each with a 1.5 megawatt capacity. The farm would supply enough energy for 6000 homes. According to the news report, power is likely to be sold to Wisconsin Electric Power and Alliant Energy.

TURBINE SUV. Enova Systems has announced that they will work with Hyundai Motor Company and Capstone Turbine to develop a prototype hybrid drive system for Hyundai’s Santa Fe sport-utility vehicle based on Capstone’s MicroTurbine (tm). The prototype, which is expected to be ready for testing next year, is a series hybrid - the turbine generator energizes an electric drive motor. In the Santa Fe the 30 kilowatt MicroTurbine will power the SUV while cruising. A battery pack will add a burst of energy for acceleration and hill climbing.

Don’t call your Hyundai dealer yet. While the technology seems easy to develop, the cost of the system might be prohibitive. Visit Enova Systems at http://www.enovasystems.com/

E-COMMERCE FOR FUEL CELLS. Astris Energy has signed an agreement with Fuelcellstore.com to sell its half-to-one kilowatt portable power system over the Internet. The alkaline fuel cell will be available to customers in the U.S. and Canada when the Internet marketing program is complete. Astris is already taking orders for the unit.

The company is also developing a two-kilowatt system for small specialty vehicles and a four-kilowatt system designed to provide electricity and heat for individual homes. Visit Fuelcellstore.com at http://www.fuelcellstore.com/ .

MORE FUEL CELL PLAYERS. Fuel cell developer Dais-Analytic has forged an alliance with Enron North America to add financial clout to aid in the commercialization of Dais-Analytic’s proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The company has been working on fuel cells for distributed generation, portable power, stand-by power and vehicle applications. Dais-Analytic membranes can also be used for dehumidification applications.

Rhombic Corporation believes it has an innovation that can reduce the number of component parts in a fuel cell, as well as eliminate the problem of corrosion on fuel cell electrodes. Fewer parts would reduce size and weight, and eliminating corrosion would extend the life and increase reliability of the devices.

Visit Dais-Analytic at http://www.daisanalytic.com/ .