Energy articles from January 2003

Energy archives from January 2003

Axis of evil or access to oil?(Iraq)(Editorial)
January 1, 2003... Four times a year we try to bring to you a useful, memorable idea. It's not an easy thing to do with the blizzard of energy news and commentary that we are just a small part of here at ENERGY. Indeed, prior to writing in this space, we are...

Tritium: what's the rush? The deeply flawed U.S. tritium policy has been justified by a false assertion of crisis. (Nuclear).
January 1, 2003... In December 1998 Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson decided that the United States would produce tritium for nuclear weapons in commercial nuclear power reactors. This unheralded, seemingly innocuous decision abandoned a long-standing policy...

Radiation risk: European Committee on Radiation Risk reports new estimates of health effects of ionizing radiation. (Nuclear).
January 1, 2003... A new report ECRR2003 Recommendations of the European Committee on Radiation Risk: the Health Effects of Ionising Radiation Exposure at Low Doses for Radiation Protection Purposes, Regulators' Edition was released at the European Parliament in...

Developing China's natural gas: the most critical issue is to develop the end-use market. (International).
January 1, 2003... In its 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-2005) for the energy sector, the government of China confirmed its strong determination to increase the share of natural gas in the country's energy supply mix within the next five years and beyond. Evidence of...

Growing role for Egypt: it's likely to be an exporter of liquefied natural gas by early 2005. (International).
January 1, 2003... Egypt is a significant oil producer and a rapidly growing natural gas producer. Projects currently under construction will likely make Egypt an exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by early 2005. The Suez Canal and Sumed Pipeline are...

Long-term resource adequacy: ensuring that enough capacity will exist to meet customer electricity needs. (Utilities).
January 1, 2003... Existing wholesale spot markets are far from perfect. These imperfections--including inefficient market designs and rules, potential abuse of market power by generators, and bid and price caps--prevent day-ahead and real-time prices from...

Paying the piper: rising prices may push the long-stalled Alaskan gas pipeline into reality. (Natural Gas).
January 1, 2003... With natural prices on domestic spot markets climbing above $10 per thousand cubic feet in early 2001, the attention of the U.S. natural gas industry returned to construction of new import terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and new...

Record global wind and solar growth seen as the start of trend.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The global capacity to produce power from wind turbines and solar power systems grew a record amount in 2002. The global capacity to generate electricity from wind power grew by a record 6,868 megawatts in 2002, according to the American Wind...

First of 45 new fuel cell systems installed on Long Island.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) announced on February 26th that it has installed a 5-kilowatt fuel cell system at a McDonald's restaurant, the first of 45 new fuel cell systems to be installed across Long Island this year. Although LIPA...

U.S. Navy orders 36.5-megawatt superconducting propulsion motor.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) announced on March 3rd that the U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research has awarded the company a contract to design and build a prototype 36.5-megawatt propulsion motor using high-temperature...

`Gas-to-liquids' complex for Qatar. (Petroleum And Gas).
January 1, 2003... Oryx GTL Limited, a joint venture company between Qatar Petroleum and Sasol of South Africa, awarded Technip-Coflexip (http://www.technip-coflexip.com) an EPC contract, worth about $675 million, for the design and construction in Qatar of the...

Exploring recovery of heavy deposits. (Petroleum And Gas).(Vernon County, Missouri)
January 1, 2003... University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) researchers are studying heavy oil deposits in Vernon County, MO, in the western part of the state near Joplin, MO. Throughout this area oil can be found just 160 feet below the Earth's surface. This is...

Spill rules increase tanker budgets. (Petroleum And Gas).
January 1, 2003... In response to several notorious oil spills, regulations in the EU and U.S. that phase-out single-hull vessels and require leak-monitoring technology will increase the cost of transporting petroleum products, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services...

Forecast addresses efficiency implications. (Outlook).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... According to EIA's just-released Annual Energy Outlook 2002, U.S. dependence on oil imports will grow over the next 22 years. Currently, the United States relies on imports to meet 55 percent of its petroleum needs, but by 2025, the EIA...

Clean energy plan could create growth. (Outlook).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... A new report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC, 35 East Wacker Dr., No. 1300, Chicago, IL 60601; Tel: 312/673-6500; Fax: 312/ 795-3730), Job Jolt--The Economic Impacts of Repowering the Midwest: The Clean Energy Development for...

Senators introduce global warming laws. (Government).(John McCain, Joseph Lieberman)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) have introduced legislation that they feel will address the global warming issue. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the McCain/Lieberman bill is the broadest in a series...

Court blocks oil exploration. (Government).(Arches National Park)
January 1, 2003... In response to a lawsuit by four environmental organizations, a federal court has blocked the Interior Department from allowing oil exploration in thousands of acres of public wildlands on the eastern boundary of Utah's Arches National Park....

WebGen Systems help cut costs, conserve energy. (Energy Management/Financing).
January 1, 2003... According to WebGen Systems, Inc. (41 William Linskey Way, Cambridge, MA 02142; Tel: 617/349-0724; Fax: 617/ 349-3612;Website: http://www.webgensystems.com), the California Department of General Services (DGS) has completed installation of...

Hydrogen from water, without electrolysis. (Industrial).
January 1, 2003... Researchers at DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (http://www.netl.doe.gov) have patented a "Method of Generating Hydrogen by Catalytic Decomposition of Water". The invention (see U.S. Patent No. 6,468,499) potentially leapfrogs...

More delays for CA vehicle program. (Transportation).(Zero-Emission Vehicle)
January 1, 2003... The California Air Resources Board (ARB) proposed new changes to its Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program on January 10th, delaying the start of the program until 2005. ZEVs are battery-or fuel-cell-powered electric vehicles that produce no air...

RAND evaluating fuel atomizer. (Transportation).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... RAND (1700 Main St., P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138; Tel: 310/393-0411; Fax: 310/393-4818) and Save the World Air, Inc. (29229 Canwood St., Suite 206, Agoura Hills, CA 91301; Website: http://savetheworldair.com/) have entered into...

Economy standards proposed for light trucks. (Transportation).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In the first proposed change to fuel economy standards in many years, the U.S. Dept of Transportation has announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will seek to increase fuel economy standards for light trucks covering...

Grant to study coal-drying. (Utilities/Power Generation).(Great River Energy)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Great River Energy (17845 East Highway 10, Elk River, MN 55330; Tel: 763/ 441-3121; Fax: 763/241-2366) an $11 million grant to help fund a large-scale coal-drying study at its Coal Creek Station power plant...

On-line wind database expands. (Utilities/Power Generation).(Energy and Environmental Research Center database)
January 1, 2003... Landowners and industrial wind energy developers worldwide can now investigate more wind resource data from the upper Midwest. The Energy & Environmental Research Center's (EERC) Plains Organization for Wind Energy Resources (POWER) Wind Energy...

CATO skeptical of Bush [H.sub.2] proposal. (Energy Policy).(CATO Institute, George W. Bush)
January 1, 2003... During the State of the Union address, President Bush proposed $1.2 billion in research funding to develop hydrogen-powered automobiles. Pat Michaels, senior fellow in environmental studies at the CATO Institute, says that while several private...

North American efficiency standards. (International).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... According to the just-released report, North American Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling, as a result of Mexico's recent adoption of new standards for energy efficiency, Mexico, Canada and the U.S. will have harmonized minimum efficiency...

Successful tidal energy production. (Alternatives).(Engineering Business Ltd. Stingray prototype)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... 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...

IEA measures the role of renewables. (Alternatives).(International Energy Agency)
January 1, 2003... In recent years, renewable energy has become an energy policy priority for all IEA Member countries. Most have now set clear targets for the penetration of renewable energy in their total primary energy supply (TPES). The World Summit on...

Schott intros solar solution. (Alternatives).(SunRoof FS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Schott Applied Power Corporation (SAPC, 4051 Alvis Ct., Rocklin, CA 95677; Tel: 916/625-9033; Fax: 916/ 625-9032; E-Mail: jennifer.pecha@us.schott.com; Website: http://www.schottappliedpower.com) is now vending a freestanding solar electric...

More evidence of climate change. (Energy And Environment).
January 1, 2003... A new study of snow accumulation on Canada's highest mountain provides strong evidence that significant climate change has occurred in Western Canada over the past 150 years. The study, which appeared in the Nov. 28th issue of Nature, examines...

Technology boosts gasoline yields. (Technology).(Product/Service Evaluation)
January 1, 2003... Engelhard Corporation (www.engelhard.com) has launched a new technology that enables petroleum refiners to significantly boost the amount of gasoline they can produce from "bottom-of-the-barrel" crude oil. Flex-Tec catalyst is the latest...

Microwave separation for pipeline project. (Technology).(innovative oil recovery system)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Imperial Petroleum Recovery Corporation (http://www.iprc.com) has completed delivery to Kellogg Brown & Root of a comprehensive Emulsion Treatment Package for ExxonMobil's 660-mile pipeline construction project in Chad, Africa. The Emulsion...

Geoexchange catches on in California. (Technology).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In Northern California, school districts have begun to install geoexchange systems in their facilities. The new Truckee Middle School will use a 135-ton geoexchange system to heat and cool its 87,000 sq. ft. facility with a capacity of 1,000...

Center demonstrates advanced buildings. (Technology).(environmental Discovery Centre opens in Missouri )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Energy Center has opened the Discovery Center, a new urban outreach facility located in Kauffman Legacy Park in Kansas City. The Discovery Center will demonstrate energy-efficient lighting and...

DOE awards for energy-efficiency. (Technology).
January 1, 2003... The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced new awards totaling $4.4 million to advance energy efficient, environmentally clean production and building technologies. The Energy Department selected 18 organizations out of 202 proposals to...

Technologies cut HVAC energy use. (Technology).
January 1, 2003... A recent report authored by TIAX LLC, a technology research consulting firm, confirms that new technologies developed for HVAC systems can significantly decrease peak energy draw and reduce the energy consumed by commercial buildings. The...

Mitigating outages caused by lightning. (Technology).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Researchers studying the effects of lightning on transmission lines at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have developed information that may help save millions of dollars annually by reducing lightning-caused outages and improving...

U.S. greenhouse emissions decreased. (Energy And Environment).
January 1, 2003... Total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, led by the decrease in carbon dioxide, fell by 1.2 percent in 2001, from 1,907 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCe) in 2000 to 1,883 MMTCe in 2001 (-23.7 MMTCe), according to Emissions of...

Ocean Power Corp. goes Chapter 11. (Economics).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Ocean Power Corporation, a U.S. company with a focus on Stirling heat engines, announced on December 10th that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Formed in 1992 to develop modular power plants and seawater desalination units, Ocean Power...

Toyota aims for energy cuts. (Economics).
January 1, 2003... According to Toyota's (1, Toyota-cho, Toyota, Aichi 471-8571, Japan; Tel: +81-565-28-2121; Fax: +81-565-23-5800; Website:http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html) latest environment report, the company plans to reduce energy use per unit of...

Too little, too late? (Fuel Cells).(George W. Bush pledges money for fuel cells)
January 1, 2003... In his State of the Union address, President Bush pledged $240 million a year to develop hydrogen fuel cell technology. While developing fuel cells is a laudable objective, it is another example of the Bush administration trying to deceive the...

Calendar.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
January 1, 2003... March 17-19, 2003, Texas Technology Showcase (energy efficiency at chemical plants and refineries), Houston, TX. Contact: Tel: 877/648-7967; Website:http://www.showcasetexas.org. March 23-27, 2003, ACS Symposium: Fuel Clean-Up...

Whither the Caspian riches? The center of oil interest has returned to Saudi Arabia and Iraq. (Commentary).
January 1, 2003... What ever happened to all the talk of a new oil utopia in the Caspian Sea and Central Asia? Word was that Caspian-Central Asian oil reserves would dwarf the Middle East. Yet, in the year since the Afghan War began, it seems that all the rumors...

Power for the future? Will it come from renaming, fusion or is it blowing in the wind? (Contrarian's View on Energy ...).
January 1, 2003... Some politicians the world over have much reason to be thankful to certain technical people for the books they wrote, like Silent Spring or Limits to Growth and its sequel. They have stirred up persistent false fears and have caused meetings to...