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EREN NETWORK NEWS -- January 8, 2003
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
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Featuring:
*News and Events
GM to Launch Hybrid Versions of Seven Vehicle Models by 2007
Ford Unveils "Model U," a Hydrogen-Fueled Hybrid Vehicle
Ford Agrees to Sell Think Nordic to Kamkorp Microelectronics
North America to Unify Energy Efficiency Standards in 2003
Fifty-Megawatt Solar Thermal Power Plant Planned for Nevada
New Mexico Adopts Minimum Renewable Energy Requirements
U.K. Company Reports Successful Tidal Energy Production
*Site News
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)
*Energy Facts and Tips
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop 1.2 Percent in 2001
*About this Newsletter
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NEWS AND EVENTS
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GM to Launch Hybrid Versions of Seven Vehicle Models by 2007
General Motors Corporation (GM) announced on Monday that it will
offer hybrid electric versions of at least seven vehicle models
within the next five years and could sell as many as a million
hybrid vehicles per year by 2007. GM will offer three types of
hybrid electric configurations in up to a dozen vehicle models.
As announced in 2001, GM is planning to introduce hybrid versions of
its GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado by combining a 14-kilowatt
motor with a V8 engine and using a 42-volt lead-acid battery pack
for energy storage. A so-called "mild" hybrid system, the motor will
provide supplemental power to the engine when needed, but the engine
will always run. GM expects a 10 to 12 percent increase in fuel
economy in the pickups, which will be available later this year.
In 2007, GM will offer the same system for its Chevrolet Tahoe and
GMC Yukon sport utility vehicles (SUVs), combined with a
"displacement on demand" feature that will shut down some engine
cylinders when they are not needed. That feature will add another
5 to 8 percent increase in fuel efficiency, according to GM. For
more information, see the May 2001 GM announcements at:
<http://www.gm.com/cgi-bin/pr_display.pl?2265> and
<http://www.gm.com/cgi-bin/pr_display.pl?2263>.
In late 2005, GM plans to introduce a hybrid version of its Saturn
VUE, a smaller SUV that runs on a 4- or 6-cylinder engine. The
hybrid electric model will add twin 20-kilowatt electric motors and
will operate as a "strong" hybrid: At low speeds, the vehicle will
run on batteries alone. GM expects to achieve 50 percent gains in
fuel economy while improving the vehicle's performance.
Starting in 2006, GM will begin selling its third hybrid system,
which combines a belt-driven starter/alternator with a 2.4-liter
engine and a 42-volt battery. Available on the upcoming Chevrolet
Equinox SUV in 2006, the system will be applied to the Chevrolet
Malibu sedan in 2007. GM expects to offer the system for both 4- and
6-cylinder engines, achieving an estimated 12 to 15 percent
improvement in fuel economy.
GM made the announcement at the 2003 North American International
Auto Show, now underway in Detroit. See the video of the GM
announcement at: <http://webevents.broadcast.com/gm/atpv2003>.
Meanwhile, Ford Motor Company is planning to begin producing a
hybrid version of the Ford Escape SUV later this year. Ford will
offer the hybrid Escape to commercial fleets this year, then offer
it to consumers in mid-2004. See the Ford Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Web site at: <http://www.hybridford.com/faq/index.asp>.
Ford Unveils "Model U," a Hydrogen-Fueled Hybrid Vehicle
Ford Motor Company unveiled a new hydrogen-fueled concept vehicle on
Sunday, but unlike most recent prototypes, this vehicle uses an
internal combustion engine rather than a fuel cell. Ford's "Model U"
concept car uses a supercharged engine to achieve a performance
similar to a gasoline-fueled engine while using about 25 percent
less energy. The engine also produces very low emissions, consisting
mainly of water vapor and low levels of nitrous oxides.
The hydrogen engine is combined with a 35-kilowatt electric motor in
a "strong" hybrid configuration, which allows the vehicle to run on
electric power only at low speeds. In addition, Ford used a number
of "green" materials in the car's construction, including Cargill
Dow's corn-based polylactide for the "canvas" roof and carpet mats,
and soy-based foams and plastics for the seats and tailgate.
The Model U, intentionally named to invoke Ford's Model T, was
unveiled during the 2003 North American International Auto Show.
Ford produced the Model U and two other concept cars as part of the
company's centennial celebration. See the Ford press release at:
<http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=14047>.
Ford Agrees to Sell Think Nordic to Kamkorp Microelectronics
Ford Motor Company signed a letter of intent in late December to
sell Think Nordic, the Norwegian part of its electric vehicle (EV)
business, to Kamkorp Microelectronics of Switzerland. The agreement
will save 100 jobs at Think Nordic's plant in Aurskog, Norway.
Ford announced in late August 2002 that it was abandoning its TH!NK
brand of battery-powered EVs, focusing instead on developing hybrid
electric and fuel-cell vehicles. As part of the agreement, Kamkorp
will also acquire the rights to the "TH!NK" and "city" brand names,
developed by Ford. Ford acquired the Norwegian plant in 1999, when it
was operating under the PIVCO name.
The news is posted on the United Kingdom version of the TH!NK
Mobility Web site. From the following link, choose "UK" as the
country, then choose "Recent News" and select the December 19th
press release: <http://www.thinkmobility.com/choose.asp?stay=Y>.
Kamkorp is the parent company of Frazer-Nash Research Limited, a
U.K.-based producer of EVs. See the Frazer-Nash Web site at:
<http://www.frazer-nash.com>.
Despite Ford's departure from the EV business, DOE is continuing
to test Ford's two-seater vehicle, the TH!NK city EV, in a
demonstration project. DOE announced last week the completion of the
first year of a three-year TH!NK city EV Demonstration Program, which
is testing 340 TH!NK city EVs in four states: California, Georgia,
Michigan, and New York. The TH!NK city has a top speed of about
55 mph and a range of about 45 miles per charge. DOE's Idaho
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) is managing
the demonstration program. See the INEEL press release at:
<http://newsdesk.inel.gov/contextnews.cfm?ID=384>.
North America to Unify Energy Efficiency Standards in 2003
A new report by the North American Energy Working Group (NAEWG)
finds that the three North American countries are quickly moving
toward unified standards for energy efficiency. The report, "North
American Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling," was released on
December 17th and highlights Mexico's recent adoption of new
standards for energy efficiency. By early 2003, those new standards
will bring Mexico in line with U.S. and Canadian minimum energy-
efficiency requirements and test procedures for refrigerators,
freezers, electric motors, and window air-conditioners, thereby
strengthening the market for high-efficiency products throughout
North America.
The report is the second from the NAEWG, a group of senior energy
officials from Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with U.S.
Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham representing the United States.
NAEWG was formed after U.S. President George W. Bush, Canadian Prime
Minister Jean Chretien and Mexican President Vicente Fox committed
in April 2001 to expanding energy trade among the three nations and
strengthening the energy market in North America. NAEWG is currently
examining a broad range of issues, including energy science and
technology, natural gas trade and interconnections, critical
infrastructure protection, and electricity regulatory issues. See
the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/decpr/pr02266.htm>.
The full report is available on the EREN Web site at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/>.
Fifty-Megawatt Solar Thermal Power Plant Planned for Nevada
Sierra Pacific Resources announced in late December that its two
Nevada-based utility subsidiaries have contracted to buy power from
a 50-megawatt solar thermal power plant. Duke Solar Energy LLC plans
to build the facility in Eldorado Valley, near Boulder City, Nevada.
The companies will now make filings with the Public Utilities
Commission of Nevada (PUCN), which will review the contracts and
determine whether they should be approved.
The contracts are part of the two utilities' actions to comply with
a state law that requires them to use renewable energy. The
utilities must increase their use of renewable energy by 2 percent
every third year until renewable energy accounts for 15 percent of
their total energy sales. Solar power must provide at least 5 percent
of the renewable energy. See the press release on the Duke Solar Web
site at:
<http://www.dukesolar.com/prod/ResourceCenter/news/Nevadanews.asp>.
Currently, the only commercial solar thermal power plants in the
United States are located in the Mojave Desert of California. Nine
plants were built there in the late 1980s and early 1990s, producing
a total of 354 megawatts of solar power. See the Solar Trough Power
Plants Web page, provided by DOE's SunLab, at:
<http://www.energylan.sandia.gov/sunlab/Snapshot/TROUGHS.HTM>.
New Mexico Adopts Minimum Renewable Energy Requirements
After an extended period of review, the New Mexico Public Regulation
Commission approved an order on December 17th that will require
public utilities in the state to use renewable energy for a
percentage of their total electricity supply. By January 1, 2006,
public utilities must draw on renewable energy for 5 percent of the
electricity that they sell. That percentage must increase at least
1 percent per year until 2011, when renewable energy will supply at
least 10 percent of the electricity sold by public utilities.
The commission's order also encourages some forms of renewable energy
by allowing them to earn extra credit. New hydropower facilities less
than 50 megawatts in capacity and any wind power facilities are
credited with the actual kilowatt-hours that they produce, but solar
power systems earn three times the actual kilowatt-hours they
produce. Electricity produced from biomass, landfill gas, geothermal
energy, or fuel cells earn twice their actual kilowatt-hours. For
instance, a utility could meet the 10 percent requirement by using
solar power for 3.33 percent of its power needs, or using geothermal
energy for 5 percent of its power.
The rule exempts rural electric cooperatives in the state, although
they must provide a green power option to their customers. Texas-New
Mexico Power Company is also exempt until December 2006, when the
utility's existing power contract expires. See the commission's
order, in PDF format only, at:
<http://www.nmprc.state.nm.us/3619for.pdf>.
U.K. Company Reports Successful Tidal Energy Production
The Engineering Business Limited (EB), a company based in the United
Kingdom, reported partially successful results from its tidal energy
prototype in December. The prototype, called Stingray, was
temporarily installed in Scotland's Yell Sound in mid-September
2002, and then retrieved at the end of that month.
According to the December report, the Stingray operators were able to
generate a peak hydraulic power of 250 kilowatts and a time-averaged
output of 90 kilowatts, with the tidal stream flowing at 1.5 meters
per second. Automatic operation achieved a continuous output of
45 kilowatts, although an undersized oil reservoir prevented full-
speed operation. However, the company reports hydraulic power rather
than true generator power in its report, stating that "power data
measured from the hydraulic system was more reliable than the data
produced from within the generator/drive system and is the best
output performance measure at the moment."
Even using the hydraulic power numbers, the machine fell below its
goals, which were to achieve a 150-kilowatt average output in a
tidal stream of 2.0 meters per second. The company's subsequent cost
estimate for a 5-megawatt demonstration plant yielded power costs
between 8 and 30 U.S. cents per kilowatt-hour, which is a wider
range and higher cost than predicted by other wave and tidal energy
developers.
Still, the company is encouraged by its initial results, and is
planning to modify the Stingray machine, redeploying it in Yell
Sound this summer. The company will also continue preparations for
the proposed 5-megawatt installation, which it hopes to begin
installing in summer 2004. See the EB report, in PDF format only,
at: <http://www.engb.com/Downloads/M02-151-01.pdf>.
Meanwhile, a Norwegian company called Hammerfest Strom AS is working
to install its own tidal energy prototype device in Kvalsundet,
Norway. The device looks much like an underwater wind turbine. The
company has installed the base, the connecting lines, and the shore
terminal, and hopes to install the turbine nacelle in January or
February. See the Hammerfest Strom Web site at:
<http://www.e-tidevannsenergi.com/index.htm>.
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SITE NEWS
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Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)
<http://www.swenergy.org/>
SWEEP promotes energy efficiency, primarily electricity
conservation, in a six-state region: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New
Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. It's a joint project of the American
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Land and Water Fund
of the Rockies. The SWEEP Web site provides regional information on
energy efficiency policies, legislation, news and events, programs,
and case studies.
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ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
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U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop 1.2 Percent in 2001
DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported in December a
1.2 percent drop in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2001, the
largest decrease since the EIA began tracking the figures in 1990.
Back in July, the EIA reported a 1.1 percent drop in energy-related
greenhouse gas emissions, which suggested that the total greenhouse
gas emissions would show a similar trend, as the December report
confirmed. The EIA attributes the decrease to slow economic growth,
reduced manufacturing output, lower electrical demand, and a
warmer-than-normal winter. See the EIA press release at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press204.html>.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), the winter of 2001-2002 was the ninth warmest on record in
the United States. Overall, 2002 is likely to register among the
20 warmest years on record for the country. On a global scale, 2002
is likely to be the second-warmest year on record. Preliminary
estimates released by NOAA in December found that average global
temperatures were likely to end up at 1.03 degrees Fahrenheit above
the long-term average, an average that was only exceeded during the
strong El Nino year of 1998. See the NOAA Web site at:
<http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/ann/ann02.html>.
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