Green Energy News | September 9, 2001

September 9, 2001 – Vol.6 No.24

ENERGIES... week of September 9, 2001

WE MUST PERSEVERE. I saw the smoke rising from the Pentagon. I saw people running from the Capitol in Washington. I heard the sonic boom of defensive jet fighters over the city. Yet in watching the television images of the crashes, explosions and subsequent collapse of the World Trade Center, the gaping hole in the Pentagon and the crater in Pennsylvania, the whole attack still almost seems surreal. Maybe it’s just a bad, bad dream.

My emotions tell me otherwise. The feelings of profound sorrow and the fitful sleep at night ensure me that 5500 defenseless people were slaughtered in the most frightening, unprecedented act ever against my country, my home. My most heartfelt sympathies go out to victim’s relatives, loved ones and friends, recovering survivors, and to all of those who grieve from the acts of terrorism on September 11.

My country is not perfect. We make and have made mistakes. Our democracy is slow, inefficient. Our economy sometimes seems unfair. Some are far too wealthy. Shamefully, many are far too poor. But when my country needs changing we are allowed - and often encouraged - to do it . We do it though hard work, and with some notable exceptions, peacefully. I have watched many things change in the last few decades, most of them for the better.

Today, as it has been for a few hundred years, my country is still the destination of choice for people looking to start a new life, build a dream, or to speak and act freely without reprisal. My country was built, and continues to be built, on the hard work, risk and talents of individuals from every nation in the world. All of us, with work, can build, improve or change our country, our lives, our fortunes.

We cannot let the actions of terrorists destroy what we have built here . We cannot let villains destroy our spirit or our economy - if that was their goal.

The day after the attack I first thought I should take the day off to reflect, to mourn, but I decided no. The best thing to do was to work. And that is what we should all do. Defy the goal of the terrorists - work harder than ever before in the pursuit of our choosing. - Bruce Mulliken, Green Energy News

THE REALITY OF BIG AUTO. While the development of much cleaner more efficient automobiles is underway - hybrid, fuel cell or electric - auto manufacturers are faced with their own realities.

Consumers are generally skeptical about new technologies. But people must buy these new technologies in large numbers for air quality and fleet vehicle efficiency to improve. The companies have to find ways to convince people to do that. A difficult challenge.

Billions of dollars have already been invested in plant, equipment and knowledge geared to the internal combustion engine. Are the manufacturers willing to throw this investment aside?

And the reality of time. Even if a massive investment were to be made in radically new vehicle technologies, it takes time to gear up for mass production. Are stockholders willing to wait for a return on that investment?

Fortunately this change, this new reality, is already taking place. The clock is wound-up and ticking, though slowly. Already we see electric and hybrid vehicle technologies on the market - more on the way. Even while those vehicles are gaining popularity other changes under the hood of our cars will hopefully take place.

-- Air-assisted direct fuel injection. Orbital Engine, a primary developer of this technology, claims 12 to 20 percent better fuel economy and reduced toxic emissions. Delphi Automotive Systems and Orbital are working together to advance and commercialize gasoline direct fuel injection. General Motors and those companies have also just announced a new experimental engine - the XV8 - a V8 that incorporates Orbital’s technology as well as other refinements.

-- Cam phasing or variable valve timing. This technology allows engines to become more efficient in a wider range of operating speeds than typical engines. Variable valve timing is already available but needs to be more widely introduced. It is endorsed by Orbital and Delphi as an additional way to improve efficiency.

-- Displacement on demand. At low speeds the engine runs on a few cylinders. At high speeds or acceleration more cylinders kick in for more power. This technology was tried in the aftermath of fuel shortages in the 1970’s, but dropped when gasoline became plentiful in the 1980’s. General Motors is working on this idea again.

-- Drive-by-wire systems. All those belts and pulleys at the front of an engine operate systems that soak up energy. Replace those systems with more efficient electric ones and overall vehicle efficiency improves. Delphi and TRW, separately, are working on safe, steer-by-wire - electric power steering - technology to replace inefficient hydraulic systems now in use. Electric braking systems are also being developed by both companies.

-- Efficient climate control. Reduce the energy drain from a vehicle’s air conditioner by improving ventilation, reducing heat build-up in the passenger compartment - even while parked - and possibly switch to a more efficient all-electric air conditioning system as mentioned by BMW and fuel economy would be noticeably improved

All of the changes, if incorporated in the same vehicle, could provide significant efficiency improvements and emission reductions - sooner than later - in a package that consumers would readily accept. This changes, too, would fall easily into current production operations. Visit Orbital at http://www.orbeng.com/ , Delphi at http://www.delphiauto.com/ , TRW at http://www.trw.com/ .

BUILDING SOLAR . Bekaert ECD Solar has announced the shipment of 148 kilowatts of its building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products to Energy Australia. The solar generators will be bonded to the metal roof of the new Kogarah Town Square Project being built as a green building complex in the New South Wales community. The solar system will be grid connected and, in addition to supplying power to the development, serve as a demonstration project for solar energy. Visit United Solar at http://www.ovonic.com/unisolar, Energy Australia at http://www.energy.com.au/ and the Kogarah Project at http://www.kogarah.nsw.gov.au/ (click Kogarah, the Vibrant Alternative).

WORLD WIND WATCH. Looking forward to growth in the wind turbine market - for both on and offshore installations - NEG Micon has announced the development of two new megawatt-class models.

To be ready for production by next year, the company will offer the NM82/1500 designed specifically for low and medium wind zone onshore installations. With noise becoming an issue for turbines installed near built-up areas, and regulations already in place to limit that noise, the new design will have the ability to switch automatically to a quieter mode of operation to meet limits at certain periods of the day. A larger model is to follow the 1.5 megawatt turbine into production. NEG-Micon is eying the German market for the NM82 series. Onshore space is becoming tight for new wind installations in the country, thus the need for quieter turbines for use in heavily populated areas.

NEG-Micon is also developing a 2.5 megawatt turbine for high wind applications - offshore and shoreline. The NM80/2500 is equipped with blade pitch regulation and variable speed operation allowing for better power quality to the grid under a variety of wind conditions. Production for this turbine is expected by 2003; a larger model is already under development. Markets are expected to be Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK.

NEG-Micon is also in the planning stages with a half dozen other companies on offshore turbines with generating capacity up to 6 megawatts. A big, clean machine.