summer1995 scienceandtechnologyatthe ... · charlie gay are using their busi-ness acumen to create...

Summer 1995

Science and Technology at theNational Renewable Energy Laboratory

In ReviewIn Review

The National RenewableEnergy Laboratory

NREL is a national resourcecommitted to leadership, excellence,and innovation in renewable energyand related technologies.

Our research is intended forapplication in the private sector. Wefoster cooperation with industrythrough subcontracts and cost-shared studies. We collaborate withuniversity and industry researchers.Our world-class laboratories areavailable for experiments, analyses,and proprietary studies.

NREL is a DOE national labora-tory operated by the MidwestResearch Institute.

NREL In ReviewNREL’s news magazine is

intended to promote the flow oftechnology from the laboratory tothe private sector. NREL In Reviewaddresses a readership ranging fromscientific professionals to businesspeople. It is distributed withoutcharge to those involved inrenewable energy and related fields.

Material may be reprinted withproper credit. Mention of product orcompany name does not constituteendorsement by NREL, MRI, or anyagency of the U.S. government.

Linda R. BrownManaging Editor/Science Writer(303) 275-4097

Ann HansenAssistant Editor

Howard Brown, Mike Coe, Gary Cook,Paula Pitchford, Patrick SummersContributing Writers

Susan SczepanskiDesigner and Typographer

Lester LefkowitzCover photograph 1994

Summer 1995 Vol. XVII, No. 2

Features2 New Directions for NREL

Plans to streamline NREL take root in the extensive industry backgroundof its new director, Charlie Gay

10 Solar for South AfricaA new assembly plant for photovoltaic modules could open up a largemarket for American-made solar cells

11 Integrating RenewablesRecent studies dispel misconceptions about integrating renewable energytechnologies into electric utility grids

12 Hands Across the WaterNREL helps smooth the way for American companies to prosper inexpanding global markets for clean, renewable energy

18 Energy Software’s Best TestArchitects and engineers can have more confidence in computerizedpredictions of building energy use thanks to a new tool called BESTEST

Departments1 NREL News

Budget cuts loom on NREL’s horizon; SERF wins national design award;states speed the widespread use of photovoltaics; NREL honored by windindustry; bipartisan poll indicates strong public support for renewables

7 Technology TransferAdvanced airfoils offer top performance for wind turbines

8 PartnershipsPV partnership program targets thin films; energy crops get a boost fromkey stakeholders; IT Corporation and Fabricare Institute clean up solventsfrom dry cleaning

15 Technical NewsBioremediation uses a wealth of microscopic organisms to detoxify wastestreams, soil, and groundwater

19 Publications20 Calendar/Technical Reports

On the cover — In a special growth chamber,an NREL researcher checks samples ofmicroalgae that will be screened for theirability to capture and hold metal ions. Seearticle on p. 15.

Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper,including 20% postconsumer waste. This magazine isfully recyclable at centers using the Office Pack program.

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NREL News

SERF wins nationaldesign award

The unique, energy-efficientdesign of NREL’s Solar EnergyResearch Facility (SERF) hasranked it among 77 winners ofthis year’s Federal DesignAchievement Award from theNational Endowment of the Arts.Recipients are now contendingfor the Presidential Design Awardfor Excellence, the nation’s high-est design honor. The SERF usesdaylighting, compact fluorescentlights, window shades poweredby photovoltaics, and otheradvanced features to reduceenergy consumption by 30% to40%—a savings of almost$200,000 a year in utility billswhen compared to a comparableconventional building.

Budget cuts loom onNREL’s horizon

At press time, both the U.S.House of Representatives and theSenate have proposed federalbudgets that could slash NREL’sfunding by as much as 50% begin-ning in fiscal year 1996. Budgetcuts would be counterproductivebecause the affected initiativeswill ultimately save more moneyfor U.S. taxpayers than what’sconsumed in federal spending,

says Christine Ervin, DOE’sAssistant Secretary for EnergyEfficiency and Renewable Energy.While the debate continues inWashington, Energy SecretaryHazel O’Leary, Assistant Secre-tary Ervin, and NREL DirectorCharlie Gay are using their busi-ness acumen to create leaner,meaner organizations. Will theirproposals stave off massivebudget cuts? See article on p. 2.

MIT wins Sunrayce ‘95After 1150 miles and nine days

of racing, the Massachusetts Insti-tute of Technology (MIT) wonSunrayce ‘95, edging second-place University of Minnesotaby just 18 minutes.

MIT’s solar car averageda record 37.2 mph (59.9 kph)for the race, which started inIndianapolis, IN, on June 20 andfinished at NREL’s Solar EnergyResearch Facility on June 29.

Rounding out the top fivewere: California PolytechnicUniversity—Pomona, third;George Washington University,fourth; and Stanford University,fifth. Solar cars from 38 NorthAmerican universities competedin the race.

Sunrayce ‘95 is a biennial colle-giate solar car race sponsored byDOE and General Motors.

NREL honored bywind industry

The American Wind EnergyAssociation has bestowed its1995 Technical Award to NREL’sNational Wind Technology Cen-ter. Dedicated by Energy Secre-tary Hazel O’Leary in October1994, the center has alreadybecome a focal point for collabora-tion and information exchangeamong government and industry

researchers. Experimental labora-tories, state-of-the-art computerfacilities, a blade-testing labora-tory, assembly and tooling work-shops, and outdoor wind turbinetest beds are available to NREL’sindustry partners. For more infor-mation on the center, contactDarrell Dodge at (303) 384-6906.

Americans supportrenewable energy

A recent national survey onpriorities for the federal energybudget reveals strong bipartisansupport for continued funding ofrenewable energy and energyefficiency research.

Conducted by Republicanpollster Vince Breglio, the post-election survey found that 42% ofAmericans believe that renewableenergy technologies should be thehighest priority for continued fed-eral funding of energy research.Another 22% ranked renewablesas the second highest energy re-search priority. This opinion wasvoiced almost equally by Republi-cans (60%), Democrats (66%), andindependents (67%).

Energy efficiency and conser-vation was also cited as a high pri-ority: 22% of respondents ratedthese technologies as the top pri-ority for federal energy funding,with 27% ranking them as secondhighest. Once again, this opinionwas almost equally share byRepublicans, Democrats, andindependents.

About 85% of those surveyedagreed that the federal govern-ment should continue to supportpartnerships with American busi-ness to promote sales of energyefficiency and renewable energytechnologies through researchand development. The poll wascommissioned by the SustainableEnergy Budget Coalition.♦

NREL In Review Summer 1995 1

by Linda R. Brown

W ith impending budgetcuts and intensive scru-tiny of DOE’s national

labs, what’s on the horizon forNREL? We asked Director CharlieGay for his perspective on upcomingchanges that may affect both theLaboratory and its industry partners.

Right now there’s a lot of talk aboutmajor budget cuts for governmentagencies, including DOE. Can youtell how NREL will be affected?

Last year, a review committeeappointed by Energy SecretaryO’Leary concluded that the nationallabs as a whole could find ways tocut their activities by 30 to 50 percentwithout jeopardizing the priorityelements of DOE’s mission. In otherwords, if you roll together all 10national labs, it should be possiblefor those labs to deliver the sameresults for about 40 percent less.This reduction focuses on how effec-tively the money is being spent toaccomplish the objectives of eachlaboratory.

We don’t know exactly how Con-gressional budget cuts will fall out.But we’re taking action to addressconcerns about the efficiency andeffectiveness of our operations.NREL is currently reviewing possi-ble reductions that could be achievedthrough improvements in opera-tional efficiency. This is one of threeelements in the framework for a newNREL: operational efficiency, newbusiness initiatives, and incomediversity.

What changes do you envision inoperations?

Operational efficiency is essentialto maximizing the amount andquality of our work within the con-straints of our available budget.We’ll use a spectrum of modern busi-ness practices to increase our workoutput and decrease the cost of ourday-to-day operations.

“We’ve succeeded inbringing some technologies

to the brink ofcommercialization, and it

would be very appropriate tohave these technologies spunoff into private ventures to

flourish or perish in thecompetitive marketplace.”

For example, we’ll be following acorporatized approach to decision-making in which responsibility andaccountability for getting thingsdone is delegated to the lowest possi-ble level within the organization. Inalmost any business today, you’llfind this kind of network, in whichself-directed employee teams aregetting things done without a lot ofexpensive overhead and bureaucracy.

We’ll also be looking at the bal-ance between research, develop-ment, and engineering; how we useour existing assets; how we candevelop more connections and

synergies with other national labs;and how we can draw more heavilyon the ties we already have withuniversities.

What about new business initiatives?These would be an effective way

to move some of NREL’s maturetechnologies quickly and efficientlyinto the marketplace. We’re explor-ing opportunities and methodologiesto spin off our more mature tech-nologies into new business ventures.We’ve succeeded in bringing sometechnologies to the brink of commer-cialization, and it would be veryappropriate to have these technolo-gies spun off into private ventures toflourish or perish in the competitivemarketplace. NREL is now workingto define more aggressive technol-ogy transfer strategies incorporatingthese options.

What technologies might be appro-priate for spinning off as newbusiness ventures?

We have a couple of candidatesin mind. One is a fairly substantialopportunity in the biofuels area—converting rice, straw, wood chips,or other biomass into ethanol. Byspinning off certain elements of thisactivity as a stand-alone businessventure—independent from theLaboratory—I believe we can drawsignificant venture capital intothe biofuels arena to finance theprivate commercialization of NREL-developed technology. At the sametime, this kind of activity wouldreturn some support to the ongoingefforts here at NREL. An independent

New Directions for NRELPlans to streamline NREL take root in the extensiveindustry background of its new director, Charlie Gay

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biofuels venture could attract interna-tional financing to pursue researchobjectives beyond what DOE fund-ing alone could support. And we’dalso be helping to create new busi-nesses with more jobs to strengthenthe renewable energy industry andthe U.S. economy.

What about the third element to theframework for a new NREL—incomediversity?

Historically, NREL has gotten themajority of its funding from the U.S.taxpayers through the Departmentof Energy. If we can diversify oursources of income, it will give usmore opportunities to forge workingrelationships with the full panoramaof stakeholders and beneficiaries ofrenewable energy technologies.There are some great opportunitiesbeyond the traditional path forfinancing our research and opera-tions. We want to collaborate more

actively with our partners inAmerican industry and withorganizations such as the multilat-eral development banks and theGlobal Environment Facility.

How might our industry partnersbe affected by budget cuts?

NREL has typically investedabout 50 percent of its budget in out-side contracts, believing that this isthe best way to leverage the taxpay-ers’ investment in renewable energy.Given the difficult budgetarychoices now facing Congress andthe Administration, we’re reviewingthis historical balance of inhouseand outside expenditures.

That sounds pretty ominous. Canyou elaborate?

It’s certainly not meant to beominous. NREL is in a partnershipwith its university and industry

stakeholders. We must periodicallyreview the best allocation of ourresources to maximize the returnon the nation’s investment in thatpartnership.

The basic goal of outside researchcontracts is to leverage the nation’sinvestment by encouragingAmerican industry and universitiesto participate in the development ofrenewable technologies.

The basic goals of NREL’s inhouseoperations are to maintain a centerof excellence in renewable energyand energy efficiency technologies;to leverage NREL’s investment inoutside contractors by providingexpert technical support to NREL’scontract administrators; and tosupply advanced analytical andreference services to researchers inindustry and at universities.

Because NREL is the nation’s lead-ing laboratory for energy efficiencyand renewable energy, it’s impera-tive that we maintain a core “centerof excellence” in these areas. NREL’ssubcontracts program has been veryeffective at fostering industry exper-tise and initiative in commercializingthese technologies.

We’re simply doing a prudentreassessment of the overall allocationof resources given the budgetaryrealities confronting us.

“I believe we can drawsignificant venture capitalinto the biofuels arena to

finance the privatecommercialization of

NREL-developedtechnology.”

Meet Charlie GayDr. Charles F. Gay was named director of the National Renewable

Energy Laboratory on January 20, 1995. He brings more than two decadesof experience in the renewable energy business to his new position.

Gay came to NREL from UNISUN, a California-based consulting firmhe cofounded in 1993. Under his expert leadership, UNISUN organized,financed, and developed renewable energy projects around the world. Hisexperience in international business management, industrial operations,new venture formation, and venture capital was an important factor in hisselection as NREL’s new director.

From 1978 to 1990, Gay served in various positions with ARCO SolarInc. in Camarillo, CA, including vice president of research and develop-ment as well as senior vice president of manufacturing, research, and engi-neering. He was appointed president of ARCO Solar in 1988. Under hisleadership, the cost of manufacturing crystalline silicon solar cells wasreduced from $25 per watt to less than $5, and ARCO became the world’slargest photovoltaics company. Siemens Solar Group acquired ARCOSolar in 1990, and Gay became president of the internationally based solarcompany.

Gay began his distinguished career at Spectrolab Inc., where hedesigned and built high performance solar cells for satellites operated byNASA and the U.S. Air Force. He holds a degree in physical chemistryfrom the University of California at Riverside.

4 Summer 1995 NREL In Review

In recent testimony before Congress,you’ve mentioned something called“sunset review.” What’s this about?

Sunset review will define criteriafor when NREL should seek to handoff the technology to industry. If atechnology fails to advance at anacceptable pace, or if we determinethat U.S. industry is not likely tocommercialize the technology, thenNREL will redirect its resources tomore productive activities. Suitablechecks and balances will ensure thatsuch decisions aren’t made prema-turely for promising technologies.The process and exact criteria are stillbeing defined. We expect to havethem in place by late summer.

How does this differ from the existingprocess?

The national labs have tradition-ally followed an approach that’sbasically “invent something, patentit, and then find someone to licenseit.” Our job at NREL is to invent newand different things; to broaden thenumber of energy options for ournation; to have a core of innovation

that can fuel the growth of the renew-able energy industry. What I’m pro-posing is to widen this approach toparallel what industry does—devotethe most resources to those technolo-gies with superior market potential.

Markets for renewable energy arereally taking off overseas, especiallyin developing nations. What role canNREL play in this arena?

We need to link up with the inter-national community. Most of thecustomers for current technology areoutside the United States. They arethe two billion people on this planetwho have no electricity. Our solar,wind, and biofuels/transportationprograms could all have an immedi-ate impact because they’re the leastexpensive options for areas not pres-ently served by power lines. NRELcan work effectively with organiza-tions like the World Bank to facilitatethe worldwide use of renewableenergy and energy efficiency.

How can NREL contribute to theefforts of the World Bank and otherorganizations promoting world tradeof U.S. products?

We’ll be allocating resources todevelop the tools that organizationssuch as the World Bank require tofund renewable energy projects. Weneed to show that renewables are amore expeditious choice than, say,waiting three years for a coal-firedplant to be installed. Renewables

“What I’m proposing is towiden this approach toparallel what industrydoes—devote the most

resources to thosetechnologies with superior

market potential.“

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DOE’s budget request for energy efficiency and renewable energy underscores the importanceof these technologies to America’s energy future. Budget proposals by the U.S. House ofRepresentatives and Senate could lead to funding reductions of up to 50%.

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are modular and can be installedrapidly. The disadvantage torenewables is that they often requirea sizable capital investment. Youhave to put your money down onthe table now to get free electricityin the future. A decade ago, bankersweren’t willing to risk lendingmoney for renewable energy projectsbecause the technologies were fairlynew. But now there’s a 15-year per-formance history all around theworld in all kinds of climates. Weneed to show that renewables are aprudent investment for groups likethe International Finance Corpora-tion, which is willing to considerequity stakes in these kinds of pro-jects. They’d be even more willingto finance projects if NREL couldhelp sort out the appropriate

performance standards and procure-ment specifications.

It sounds like NREL is enteringan era of significant change.What vision do you have of theLaboratory’s future?

Our goal is to strengthen the Labby making it as effective as possiblegiven our budget constraints, andto consolidate our position as thenation’s center of excellence forrenewable energy and energy effi-ciency. We want to energize the col-lective capacity of our organizationand make this a new NREL—a placewhere good science gets done, wherethe applications of that science areeasily accessible to folks that willapply them, and a place where

getting the job done supersedesbureaucratic encumbrances. Theresult will be to move technologiesout of the Lab more quickly to createnew jobs and improve U.S. competi-tiveness in growing energy marketsaround the world.♦

Left: At NREL’s new ProcessDevelopment Unit, researcherscan help U.S. companies scale upbiofuels production for largecommercial markets.

Below: Technologies now approach-ing commercialization include cofer-mentation of biomass sugarsto ethanol using a single set oftanks.

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Technology Transfer

New Airfoils Offer Top PerformanceNow available for licensing, advanced airfoils keep U.S. companies on theleading edge of wind energy technology

by Paula Pitchford

I f the current licensing trend con-tinues, blades based on NREL’sadvanced airfoils will soon be

found atop thousands of new windturbines both in the United Statesand abroad.

NREL and its managing contrac-tor, the Midwest Research Institute,recently licensed advanced-airfoiltechnology to three U.S. wind com-panies. Two more agreements arepending.

Designed especially for windturbines, the new airfoils (cross-sectional shapes) resist soiling frominsects and airborne pollutants,which can reduce the energy produc-tion of conventional turbines by asmuch as 50%.

Sign here for better bladesThe non-exclusive licenses will

give American companies a competi-tive edge in growing world marketsfor highly efficient, reliable wind tur-bines as well as replacement bladesfor older machines.

Phoenix Industries of Crookston,MN, worked closely with NREL todevelop the new airfoils. So far thecompany has manufactured 80 setsof 8- and 10-meter replacementblades for older wind machines inCalifornia. Turbines flying the newblades are showing improvementsin energy production amounting to10% to 40% more electricity per year.

Atlantic Orient Co. of Norwich,VT, is outfitting its 50-kilowatt

machine with blades based on NREL’sairfoils. A prototype machineunderwent testing last year as partof a hybrid power system on PrinceEdward Island in eastern Canada.

Advanced Wind Turbines Inc. ofSeattle, WA, and FloWind Corp. ofSan Rafael, CA, have joined forcesto manufacture several hundred oftheir new 300-kilowatt, advancedAWT turbines. Many of thesemachines are slated for export toIndia.

And Zond Systems Inc. ofTehachapi, CA, is producing adozen new turbines with20-meter blades based onNREL’s advanced airfoils.The machines will be partof a six-megawatt windpower plant now beingbuilt by Central and South-west Services Inc. in Texas.

Move up to betterperformance

During the 1980s, windplant operators in Califor-nia had some serious prob-lems with some of theirturbines.

“They saw a lot ofburned-out generators andtransmissions because ofthe excessive powerproduced at high windspeeds,” said NREL’s JimTangler, who spearheadedthe airfoil effort.

To solve these problems,researchers at NREL andAirfoils Inc. developed

nine different airfoil “families” forblades 1 to 25 meters in length or2 to 1000 kilowatts in output.

Other firms that manufacturewind turbines or turbine bladeschiefly in the United States canobtain non-exclusive licenses foradvanced airfoils from NREL andits managing contractor, theMidwest Research Institute ofKansas City, MO.

For more information, contactNREL’s Technology Transfer Officeat (303) 275-3008.♦

Advanced Wind Turbines Inc.’s new 300-kilowatt machineuses blades designed with advanced airfoils. Increased energyproduction will pay back the licensing royalty fee in just twoor three months of operation for most licensees.

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PV Partnerships TargetThin Films

NREL has awarded four morethree-year subcontracts in a new part-nership program designed to bringadvanced photovoltaic (PV) productsinto the marketplace.

Solar Cells Inc. of Toledo, OH, wasawarded a $3.5-million subcontractto address key design and produc-tion issues for thin-film modulesmade of cadmium telluride (CdTe).Areas of special attention includeincreased module efficiency andlower costs.

A $1.73-million, cost-shared sub-contract will allow InternationalSolar Electric Technology (ISET) ofInglewood, CA, to develop PV mod-ules based on copper indium dise-lenide (CIS). Research focuses on avery inexpensive, vacuumless fabrica-tion method. ISET has already dem-onstrated 12%-efficient cells usingthis technique. Efforts now focus onscale-up issues.

The University of South Floridareceived a $906,000, cost-reimbursablesubcontract to develop advancedprocessing schemes for solar cellsmade of CdTe and copper indiumgallium diselenide.

The University of Toledo in Ohiowas awarded a two-year, cost-sharedsubcontract in which NREL will pro-vide $225,000 to improve laser scrib-ing and interconnection schemes forCdTe and CIS modules.

Energy Photovoltaics Inc. ofPrinceton, NJ, received a three-year,$3.9-million subcontract to developfaster and cheaper ways to coat glasswith thin CIS films. The new tech-nique involves in-line vacuum meth-ods similar to those currently used tocoat windows with films that reduceheat and glare.

These subcontracts under the ThinFilm Partnership Program join pre-vious awards made to AstroPowerInc. of Newark, DE, and United SolarSystems Corp. of Troy, MI. For moreinformation, contact Ken Zweibel at(303) 384-6441.

Stakeholder Input forFeedstock Research

Representatives from 10 organ-izations have joined forces to provideprivate industrial and public perspec-tive on biomass feedstock researchsponsored by the U.S. Department ofEnergy’s Office of Energy Efficiencyand Renewable Energy.

Participants in the TerrestrialBiomass Feedstock Interface projectinclude Amoco, Exxon, the NebraskaEthanol Board, and the University ofMontana. The joint effort will iden-tify promising biomass feedstocks forbiomass research, suggest ways towork with industry to create opportu-nities for commercial biomass-to-ethanol conversion, and promotebiofuels technologies.

The committee, which met forthe first time in June, also seekscompanies, communities, and agen-cies interested in developing localfuel production industries.

Committee members wereselected from more than 200 candi-dates who responded to a call fornominees last fall. Finalists were askedto serve two- or three-year terms.

Sustainable Energyfor States

NREL has initiated a pilot pro-gram called Sustainable TechnologyEnergy Partnerships to demonstratespecific ways for state energy officesand DOE’s national laboratories tospeed the commercialization anddeployment of laboratory research.

As a result of this pilot program,a dozen states have come together toassess the use of photovoltaic (PV)systems in public parks, prisons, uni-versities, and other facilities. The as-sessment will go beyond standardcapacity and cost considerations to in-clude aspects such as the ability toprovide uninterrupted power forhigh-security areas, historic buildingSwitchgrass is one of many energy crops that can be converted into cleaner-burning transporta-

tion fuel.

Partnerships

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retrofits, and new facility buildingintegration.

In addition to facilitating the statepartnership, NREL will develop costmethods to assess the value of PV forspecific applications. NREL will alsowork with participating states tocompile data and identify overallvalue patterns for PV systems.

For more information, contactNREL’s Christy Herig at (303)384-6546.

Ultraviolet Light DestroysCleaning Solvents

NREL recently teamed with ITCorporation of Knoxville, TN, andInternational Fabricare Institute ofSilver Spring, MD, to clean up pol-lutants and other organic contami-nants associated with the drycleaning industry.

Currently there are no cost-effective ways to clean up these sol-vents. NREL and IT Corporationare developing a process called pho-tocatalytic oxidation that could fillthis gap. The process, which usesultraviolet light and special catalyststo break down organic toxins, effec-tively treats waste streams with lowflow rates and low concentrations ofcontaminants, such as those typicallyassociated with dry cleaning.

IT Corporation has taken the leadin commercializing the technologyfor gaseous pollutants. An agree-ment between NREL and Interna-tional Fabricare Institute will lead toa better understanding of how photo-catalytic oxidation could be used ona commercial scale.

Results could help alleviate theenvironmental challenges faced byabout 30,000 small businessesthroughout the United States.

For more information on photo-catalytic oxidation, contact NREL’sCarol Lyons at (303) 275-7439.

ComparingDiesel andBiodiesel Fuels

A first-of-its-kindworking group willestimate and comparethe environmentaland energy merits ofbiodiesel versus dieselas transportationfuels. Called a fullfuel cycle analysis, thestudy will assess allthe activities requiredto produce, distribute,and use both fuels.

What makes thisstudy the first of itskind is the diversebackground of theparticipants, explainsJohn Sheehan, NREL’sbiodiesel projectleader. Membersinclude the NationalBiodiesel Board, theU.S. Department ofAgriculture’s Office ofEnergy, the U.S. Envi-ronmental ProtectionAgency’s Policy Officeand National VehicleEmissions Test Laboratory, and theCity of Chicago. Representationfrom the private sector includes theNational Biodiesel Board, a biodieseltrade association, and Twin RiversTechnologies Inc. (one of several U.S.companies poised to commercializebiodiesel in the United States).

Additional companies and agen-cies have expressed interest in partici-pating, including ARCO Chemicaland Canada’s Department of Energy.

The most important product ofthe study will be a computer modelthat will help businesses and gov-ernment agencies to assess the eco-nomic, environmental, and energyaspects of the two fuels.

Unlike nonrenewable diesel fuel,biodiesel is made from plant oilsand animal fats. By adding 20% bio-diesel to #2 diesel, fleet operatorscan comply with stricter emissionsregulations without extensive modifi-cation of existing vehicles.

Biodiesel is currently producedin small U.S. markets for about66¢ per liter—usually from soybeans.According to Sheehan, technologiesexist today to produce the fuel fromrecycled fats and oils for about32¢ per liter. The goal of NREL’sresearch is to develop technologiesthat use microalgae to convert coalpower plant flue gas into biodieselfor 26¢ per liter by 2015.♦

Partnerships

A researcher studies a DNA chromatagraph of microalgae forfurther analysis in NREL’s biodiesel research.

Photo not available fordistribution on the Internet


SolarforSouthAfricaNREL and Spire Corp. team with a South Africanbusiness to build an assembly plant for photovoltaicmodules—a move that could create large marketsfor American-made products

by Linda R. Brown

D urban, South Africa, is amodern industrial centerwith the same kind of sky-

scrapers and traffic jams you’d findin many American cities. But in ruralareas of South Africa, about 10 mil-lion people live beyond the reach ofpower lines and the modern lifestylethat goes with them.

Bob McConnell of NREL’s Photo-voltaics Division has been going toDurban to help change that situation.With funding from DOE’s Office ofEnergy Efficiency and RenewableEnergy, NREL has subcontractedSpire Corp. of Bedford, MA, to helpa black-owned South African busi-ness build an assembly plant formanufacturing photovoltaic (PV)modules.

The project dovetails nicely withNelson Mandela’s efforts to bringelectricity to remote areas of SouthAfrica. It will also open up a largenew market for American-madesolar cells.

“This is a fascinating project,” saysMcConnell. “Apartheid has beenabolished and now we have a PV

project that involves everybodyworking toward a common goal.”

Spire plans to ship componentsfor the new manufacturing line thissummer, with module productionin full swing by August. Possibleuses for PV systems in South Africainclude water pumping, as well asproducing electricity for lights, televi-sions, radios, and refrigerators.

A black empowerment organiza-tion called Renaissance is creating apolitically neutral company to oper-ate the assembly plant. Renaissancewill also arrange start-up funding forthe new business and train its blackmanagers.

The University of Port Elizabethis already using Spire equipment totest the performance of PV modules.Lecturer Ernest van Dyk recentlytraveled from the university toNREL, where he is working withDick DeBlasio to learn more aboutmodule performance and reliabilitytesting.

The Durban plant will be able toproduce modules totaling 500 kilo-watts of generating capacity peryear. This is only a fraction of thepotential market for PV throughoutAfrica, a continent where 540 millionpeople currently lack access toelectricity.♦

This South African family is enjoying electriclights for the first time thanks to a PV moduleinstalled by the University of Port Elizabeth.

Dr. Ernest van Dyk (right) and a student atthe University of Port Elizabeth inspect a PVmodule manufactured by Siemens Solar Indus-tries of California. Van Dyk is now a visitingresearcher at NREL.





A recent NRELreport takes a lookat integratingrenewable energytechnologies withelectric utilitygrids

Sunshine and wind.For years, utilitydecision makers

have questioned whetherthese nondepletable—butintermittently available—energysources could be successfully inte-grated with electric power supplies.

NREL analysts have reviewedmore than 300 studies of intermittentrenewable energy technologies.They’ve found that newer studiesinvalidate several common miscon-ceptions about integrating renew-ables. Other concerns are close toresolution.

Dispelling the misconceptionsEarly studies often overstated

the adverse effects of intermittentrenewables, primarily because ofinadequate information about boththe resources and the technologies.Recent studies are more optimistic,reflecting advances in the technolo-gies and a better understanding oftheir interaction with utility systems.

In the late 1970s and 1980s,studies predicted that operationalproblems and high costs wouldlimit the penetration of intermittentrenewables to about 5% of a utility’stotal capacity. Newer studies showthat penetration levels of 10% ormore are possible with today’stechnologies.

Studies also indicate that penetra-tion levels could exceed 10% in someinstances. The limit must be judgedon a case-by-case basis, taking intoaccount factors such as resource vari-ability in a specific location as well asspecific load characteristics and theoverall generating mix of the utility.

When the output of an intermit-tent renewable technology is wellmatched with electricity demand,it can add capacity value as well asdiversity to a utility’s energy mix.

Identifying today’s challengesNREL’s report identifies several

factors still impeding the widespreadadoption of renewables.

For example, even though capitaland energy costs are far lower thana decade ago, further reductionsare necessary to compete with non-intermittent conventional energysources in many applications.

The cost of transporting electricityfrom a renewable energy project to autility’s transmission system alsomay be a factor. Substantial wind andsolar resources may be located at theperipheries of utility systems, requir-ing costly new transmission facilitiesor connection to existing lines.

In addition, we must developbetter planning tools to account foradvantages such as clean power pro-duction, fuel diversity, modularity,and shorter project lead times. Whencombined with better resource dataand modeling, these tools will helputilities gauge the true value of add-ing renewable energy capacity.

This article summarizes a recentNREL report entitled Factors Relevantto Utility Integration of IntermittentRenewable Technologies, authoredby Yih-huei Wan and Brian Parsons ofthe Analytic Studies Division. Torequest a copy of this report, contactNREL’s Document Distribution Service,1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401,(303) 275-4363, FAX (303) 275-4053.♦

IntegratingRenewables

Years of experience have shown that wind tur-bines can supply up to 8% of Pacific Gas &Electric Co.’s electricity demand with no com-patability problems for the utility. TheseMicon machines are part of a large windfarmat Altamont Pass, CA. Photo courtesy ofWarren Gretz/NREL


NREL is building bridges for U.S. companies to enter profitableinternational markets for renewable energy technologies

by Gary Cook

S tanding on a Yucatan beach,NREL’s Dennis Elliott felt thepower of the wind. He saw

trees bent from the continual breezes.And he knew what others didn’t:there was enough wind here to gen-erate electricity for Xcalak, a nearbyvillage.

Elliott was gathering windresource data in the Yucatan at thebehest of U.S. industry. He hadprovided this service for otherparts of the world. In Indonesia, heshowed that some remote islands

had enough wind to justify a $100-million renewable energy projectplanned for those islands. Before heanalyzed the situation, the WorldBank had decided not to considerwind energy because of a perceivedlack of wind resource.

Elliott frequently runs across thisproblem in developing nations,which often lack the technology foraccurate assessments. Instrumenta-tion is often installed in the wrongplaces to measure local resources.Or measurement devices are tooold and haven’t been maintainedproperly, thereby decreasing theiraccuracy.

In the Yucatan, Elliott didn’t needto inspect the instrumentation. All hehad to do was look at the historicaldata records to determine that themeasuring devices were too old tobe of much use.

Instead, he examined ship’srecords of coastal area winds. Extrap-olating from these data, Elliott pro-duced resource maps that showedthere was ample wind for generatingpower for Xcalak.

This is just one example of NREL’sexpanding efforts in the international

arena. Similar analyses are determin-ing solar resources in nations aroundthe world. Eventually NREL hopesto be able to analyze all global renew-able energy resources.

Among its many internationalactivities, NREL is helping todevelop photovoltaic power forremote regions of Indonesia, plan-ning wind power for villages inCentral America, assessing resourcesin Chile, hosting African ambassa-dors, and joining government offi-cials on trade missions to China andIndia.

Cultivating marketsEconomies of developing nations

are growing. For example, China’seconomy has grown by about 10%per year for more than a decade.Similar situations exist in othernations, where markets for renew-able energy technologies look moreinviting than those at home.

The World Bank estimatesthat two billion people are

currently withoutelectricity, and that millions

of villages are well awayfrom established grids or

supply routes.

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Above illustration: The International EnergyAgency predicts that many nations will beexperiencing incremental growth in powergeneration capacity during the next ten years.


TheWorldBank

Most developing nations needenergy, but vast areas have no estab-lished energy infrastructure. TheWorld Bank estimates that two bil-lion people are currently withoutelectricity, and that millions of vil-lages are well away from establishedgrids or supply routes.

No infrastructure means that con-ventional forms of energy can costa great deal. In the far reaches ofBrazil, it often takes as much as twogallons of diesel fuel to transport onegallon of fuel to a home or school.This cost helps make renewableenergy the cheapest alternative inmany areas.

The international market forrenewables is bigger than currentU.S. production capacity can han-dle—and will be for years. For exam-ple, about 75% of the present marketfor American-made photovoltaicsystems is in international sales.Increased sales overseas will supportmore production capacity at home,lowering costs through economies ofscale. This will make U.S. productsmore competitive both internation-ally and domestically.

Benefitting U.S. businessesStrengthening the U.S. renewable

energy industry has long been partof DOE’s and NREL’s mission. Pastefforts have focused on developingtechnologies for domestic use. Butrecent regulatory and economictrends have created a flat domesticmarket. Therefore it’s increasinglyimportant for government and

industry to work together in theinternational arena.

In northeastern Brazil, NRELis helping to bring photovoltaic-generated electricity to remote vil-lages. Along with officials fromDOE’s office of Energy Efficiencyand Renewable Energy, NREL staffmembers made initial contacts withthe Brazilian government. They alsoset up relationships with the stateutilities, gave technical advice onconstructing and maintaining thesystems, and continue to monitortheir operation. As a result, Brazilis considering expanded use ofrenewable energy technologies inother states.

Tapping into NREL’s activitiesDoing business in foreign coun-

tries takes a large commitment from

a company—a devotion of time,personnel, and money that smallcompanies often can’t afford. Sowhat can small companies do totap the expanding internationalmarkets? And how do NREL’sinternational activities help them?

In addition to supporting smallcompanies with guidance, expertise,and cost-shared funding, NREL isplaying an increasingly importantrole in building bridges to foreignmarkets.

For example, staff membersgather and document financial, mar-ket, legal, resource information thatenables companies to enter variousmarkets. They also join companies,industry associations, and DOE offi-cials on trade missions; provide tech-nical expertise as well as resourceand site analyses; and offer a bal-anced perspective for what kinds ofenergy systems may be needed forparticular sites.

Playing the international cardThe Solar Energy Research Institute (now NREL) was founded in 1977

to help establish a domestic renewable energy industry and to acceleratethe entry of new energy technologies into the marketplace.

Our strategy to meet this mission has long been based on technologypush, in which technological innovation would increase system efficiency,reliability, and longevity. Industry would incorporate these advances intotheir products, thereby reducing costs and boosting sales. This in turnwould create economies of scale in production to lower costs even further,and so on.

Many technologies have indeed made excellent progress. But the domes-tic market appears to be flattening out. Reasons range from the continuedlow cost of oil to legislation such as the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct).

Among other things, EPAct is forcing utilities to seek the cheapest,fastest, safest way to add new generating capacity. The uncertainties sur-rounding this process have also created uncertainties about near-term pros-pects for the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies in theUnited States.

Meanwhile, the cost of renewable energy will continue to decline as tech-nologies improve. But costs would decline even further if companies couldachieve economies of scale in production. This can occur by competing intough, fast-paced international markets. NREL is now helping the renew-able energy industry play the winning card with its new internationalprogram.


NREL also provides technicalexpertise, analyses, and resourcedata to the development banks,including the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, AsianDevelopment Bank, and AfricanDevelopment Bank. This kind ofinformation and assistance allowsfinancing organizations to makemore informed decisions about mak-ing loans or granting funds to U.S.companies.

International development banksare the crucial link to the growingworld market for renewable energy.But until lately these organizationshave favored funding for large con-ventional energy projects.

In the early 1990s, things began tochange. For many years the bankswere criticized for financing projectsthat neglected the development ofremote areas and that often devas-tated the environment. This cameto a head at the 1992 conference inRio De Janeiro, where governmentand nongovernment organizationsdemanded a more benign strategy.In addition, the so-called industrialnations asked their developing neigh-bors to develop their energy sourcesand enhance their economies with-out adding to global climate change.

Many developing nations wereunwilling to carry this extra burdenunless they could obtain properfinancing.

The banks agreed to finance morebenign development. In its 1992annual report, the World Bank pre-sented an argument for developmentof renewable energy technologiesin developing nations. And in 1994,the World Bank formally beganspurring the development of thesetechnologies.

The initiative includes a strategyto group projects under single blockloans or grants, thus relieving theburden that might otherwiseoverwhelm the management andmonitoring of small renewableenergy projects.

Another part of the initiative is a$2-billion grant program known asthe Global Environmental Facility(GEF), a pool of money that’s givento deserving projects. The GEF ischarged with demonstrating thevalue of promising technologies.Under this program, $1 billion isspecifically dedicated to reducingthe emission of greenhouse gasesthrough renewable energy projects.The other $1 billion is for projectsthat also promise to be friendly to

the environment, but aren’t necessar-ily related to energy.

Unfortunately, the developmentbanks don’t have the expertise todetermine what technologies areappropriate, nor whether theresource is adequate. That’s whereNREL comes in.

Sam Baldwin, the Laboratory’snew director of international activi-ties, will be working for the next18 months in Washington, DC, as aliaison between NREL, the WorldBank, other development banks,trade organizations, and repre-sentatives from various nations.

In addition to supportingsmall companies with

guidance, expertise, andcost-shared funding, NRELis playing an increasinglyimportant role in buildingbridges to foreign markets.

Baldwin’s other duties includecoordinating NREL’s internationalactivities, providing a perspectivewider than that belonging to a singletechnology. He will also adjudicateamong technologies when there’s aquestion as to what systems wouldbe best suited for a particular project.This will provide much-needed coor-dination of efforts among individualtechnologies.

For more information on NREL’sinternational activities, contact SamBaldwin at (202) 651-7500. Informa-tion on World Bank activities canbe obtained from its Industry andEnergy Department, Washington,DC, (202) 458-4755.♦

200 Kilometers

Wind Power Classification forRural Power Applications

Wind PowerDensity at 30 m

(W/m )2

Wind Speedat 30 m(m/s)

a ResourcePotential

Mountain Terrain a Range of wind speeds is based on the Weibull k values of1.25 to 3.0 found throughout the different regions of Mexico

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Resource data can help lending institutions make more informed decisions about renewableenergy projects. This map shows wind resources in Mexico suitable for hybrid or stand-alonewind systems.


Cleaning Up With MicroorganismsNREL researchers haveuncovered a wealth ofmicroscopic algae andbacteria to detoxifywaste streams, soil,and groundwater

B ioremediation isn’t simplya matter of throwing a fewmicroscopic “bugs” at toxic

materials. Effective systems requirecareful science and diligent engineer-ing. NREL researchers have usedthe expertise and capabilities they’veacquired from years of researchfunded by DOE to pioneer newadvances in bioremediation.

Microorganisms such as bacteriaand microalgae are useful partnersfor many tasks. Although originallyacquired for use in producing fuelssuch as methane or ethanol, many ofthe microorganisms in NREL’sextensive collection can be used toremove leachable toxic metal ionsfrom waste streams as well as con-taminated groundwater or soil.Other microbes can degrade organictoxins to harmless materials or con-vert them to useful energy sources.

Algae trap toxic metalsLeachable toxic metal ions are

widespread, serious contaminantsof our nation’s soil and groundwater.NREL scientists have discovered thatcertain algae produce a slimy coatingthat captures these metal ions foreasier disposal or recovery.

How does this slick approachwork? Many single-cell algaeproduce a layer of slime aroundthemselves. Polysaccharides in theslime have an affinity for metal ionsin solution. This ability can be har-nessed to create selective biologicalion exchange resins.

NREL scientist Steve Toon hasscreened algae for their ability tobind metals. The algae are embeddedin a fiberglass filter that’s placedinside specially designed bioreactors,where they adsorb metals fromwaste streams such as acid minedrainage. As contaminated waterflows through the reactor, the slimelayer traps the metal ions andallows contaminant-free water tocontinue flowing. Reactor operators

periodically remove the filter to har-vest accumulated metals or metal-saturated algae for easy disposal orrecovery. Before they replace thefilter, operators adjust the reactor’snutrient supply to replenish themicroalgae population and promotefurther growth of the slime layer.

NREL’s bioremediation team hasan extensive microalgae collectionfor metals remediation. This collec-tion was developed as part ofNREL’s biodiesel research, in whichmicroalgae use carbon dioxide in theatmosphere to produce high yieldsof lipids (oils) for conversion to aclean-burning transportation fuel.The tremendous growth rate of thesemicroalgae also makes them usefulfor metals remediation.

A researcher checks a sample of photosynthetic bacteria, which have the special ability to degradetoxic organic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Technical News

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Senior biologist Paul Roessler nowsupervises a collection of more than400 algal strains, many of whichwere isolated from special environ-mental niches such as saline desertenvironments.

Bacteria remove heavy metalsAlgae aren’t the only microorgan-

isms that produce polysaccharideslime layers. Some photosyntheticbacteria also have this ability andcan be harnessed to reduce metalions for concentration and recoveryfrom water or soil. The technologycan be applied to radionuclides aswell as the waste streams of indus-tries such as metal plating, metalfinishing, and computer chipmanufacturing.

NREL engineer George Philippidisuses the common bacterium

Escherichia coli to capture solublemercury ions—metal contaminantsthat are some of the most notoriousfor causing health problems.Philippidis also uses bacteria toreduce metals such as lead, copper,arsenic, cadmium, silver, and gold.In this work, he applies metabolicmodeling, cell-permeability treat-ment, genetic engineering, and othercapabilities developed throughNREL’s biomass-to-ethanol researchprogram.

Biochemical engineer AliMohagheghi is studying the use ofsulfate-reducing bacteria to recoversoluble uranium VI ions. The bacte-ria produce hydrogen sulfide, whichreduces the uranium ions to forminsoluble uranium IV oxide. Thebacteria provide a surface for thereaction, and the uranium oxideprecipitates out for recovery.

Photosynthetic bacteria feedon organic toxins

Photosynthetic bacteria use sun-light to produce energy in much

the same way that plants do. NRELresearchers have been exploring theuse of these “solar” bacteria to pro-duce hydrogen to be used as a clean,abundant source of energy. As itturns out, photosynthetic bacteriaalso can be harnessed to converthighly toxic organic wastes to valu-able methane.

Microbiologist Pin-Ching Manesshas isolated three bacterial strainscapable of remediating organic con-taminants in soil and water. Two ofthese photosynthetic bacteria digestm-chlorobenzoate, a principal break-down product of both chlorinatedpesticides and polychlorinatedbiphenyls (PCBs). The other bacterialstrain digests p-cresol, a principalbreakdown product of creosote,which is widely used as a wood pre-servative but is toxic to living plants.

Photosynthetic bacteria have animportant advantage over othertypes of microorganisms commonlyused for bioremediation: they obtaintheir energy directly from the sun,using only the contaminants as a

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The common bacterium Escherichia colicaptures soluble mercury ions and holds themfor recovery. These metal contaminants aresome of the most notorious for causing healthproblems.

Technical News

Initially developed to convert mixtures of cellulosic and fatty wastes into methane, NREL’shigh solids reactor could also be used for the bioremediation of petroleum refinery waste andother undesirable material.

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Technical News

carbon source. This makes themhighly effective in situations whereenergy-yielding nutrients aren’treadily available.

Senior microbiologist Chris Rivardhas adapted natural microbes todegrade furfural. This toxic chemicalis commonly used as a weed killer.It’s also generated by sulfite pulp-ing to make paper; during theproduction of fruit juices, wines,and medical solutions; and as anunwanted byproduct of biomass-to-ethanol fermentation.

Rivard and other NREL scientistshave developed closed reactor sys-tems that increase mixing of bacteriaand wastes for more efficient anaero-bic digestion, a process that trans-forms organic material into usefulgardening compost and methane forpower generation. By using closedreactors for the bioremediation oforganic toxins, Rivard and his teamalso prevent these volatile com-pounds from evaporating. Thebacteria used in this process occurnaturally and can be safely used inthe environment for cleaning uptoxic spills.

NREL is now exploring the useof anaerobic digestion for a majorindustrial waste stream: the acetoni-trile and cyanide byproducts frommaking acrylonitrile, a basic chemi-cal used in producing synthetic rub-ber and plastics. These byproductsare usually incinerated, but increas-ingly stringent regulation of thisdisposal method has opened thedoor for approaches such as bioreme-diation. Environmental scientist NickNagle and other NREL researchersare developing anaerobic digestionfor this purpose.

Innovative reactor systemsmultiply effectiveness

A key element of NREL’s bioreme-diation research is designing innova-tive reactor systems that create thebest possible conditions for microbial

action. For example, the high solidsreactor developed by Chris Rivardis far more efficient and economicalthan the low solids anaerobic diges-tion traditionally used in sewagetreatment plants. NREL has subcon-tracted Bioengineering ResourcesInc. of Fayetteville, AR, to build amajor pilot plant for testing the useof NREL’s high solids reactor inprocessing municipal solid wasteand tuna cannery waste.

The high solids reactor is one ofmany examples of NREL capabilitiesgleaned from more than a decade ofenergy-related research. These capa-bilities can help U.S. industriesdevelop, scale up, and commercializenew bioremediation methods. NREL’steam members have expertise inmicrobiology, molecular biology,overall system design, computermodeling of biological and chemical

processes, modeling and analysis ofproject economics, and integratingprocesses to understand the interac-tion of multiple steps. They alsounderstand how to take advantageof opportunities for recycling andusing byproducts. Facilities and equip-ment available to industry partnersinclude a recently completedbiomass-to-ethanol pilot plant, capa-ble of processing one ton of feedstockper day. The pilot plant can also beused for bioremediation projects.

This article was adapted from a six-page capabilities brief entitled “Biore-mediation from the Biofuels People”by Chris Rivard and Howard Brown.For more information on NREL’s biore-mediation technologies or researchcapabilities, contact Chris Rivard at(303) 384-7631.♦

Laboratory-scale fixed film and upflow anaerobic sludgeblanket systems clean up liquid waste streams.

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Energy Software’s Best TestArchitects and engineers can have more confidence in computerizedpredictions of building energy use thanks to a new tool called BESTEST

NREL researcher RonJudkoff has developed anew diagnostic method to

improve the accuracy of computerenergy software programs. CalledBESTEST—Building Energy Simula-tion Test—the new tool ultimatelywill allow architects and engineers tomake better predictions of buildingenergy performance.

Energy use, comfort levels, andlighting quality in a building dependon many complex interactions. Com-puter simulation is the only practicalway to bring such complex systemsintegration problems within thegrasp of building designers. Buttoday’s energy software programscan produce widely diverging resultseven when considering identicalstructural designs, energy-relatedequipment, and energy use patterns.

BESTEST can help sort throughthese discrepancies in several ways.Users can compare the predictionsof a building energy program to theresults of a detailed reference pro-gram. Users can also diagnose thealgorithm-based differences in pre-dictions observed between severalsimulation programs. A programmercan check modifications to a pre-vious software version by comparingthe modified version to the original,thereby ensuring that only desiredchanges were made. Software devel-opers can also investigate an algo-rithm’s sensitivity to changes bychecking the modified versionagainst the original.

BESTEST performs these feats byapplying a series of carefully speci-fied test-case buildings that progressfrom the extremely simple to the

relatively complex, according to ascheme of diagnostic logic. Outputvalues can include factors such aspeak loads, annual loads, andtemperature ranges.

The BESTEST procedure is partof an overall validation method firstdeveloped at NREL in 1983 that com-bines analytical, empirical, and com-parative techniques. It compares agiven program with other state-of-the-art programs that have beenanalytically verified and validatedin real buildings. “Failing” a testdoesn’t necessarily indicate a faultyprogram, but rather differences tobe studied and understood.

In practice, the diagnostic proce-dures have revealed bugs, faultyalgorithms, and modeling limitationsin every one of the world-class

building energy computer programsstudied.

The American Society of Heating,Refrigerating, and Air-ConditioningEngineers is adopting BESTEST asa “standard method of test.” Andafter reviewing a draft version ofBESTEST, California’s State EnergyCommission has also adopted themethod for evaluating its building-energy analysis software. NREL isalso developing versions of BESTESTthat will be the basis for testing soft-ware in the National Home EnergyRating System initiative.

BESTEST was developed as partof an International Energy Agencyproject and has been field tested inseven European countries.

For more information, contactRon Judkoff at (303) 384-7520.♦

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In this BESTEST plot, the calculated results from six simulation programs fell within theshaded envelope. Results from another program, shown by the dotted curve, deviate drasticallyfrom the envelope. When computer code “bugs” revealed by BESTEST diagnostics were fixed,the results fell within the range of the other programs.


Bioremediation from the Biofuels PeopleNREL/MK-336-6937

Scientists and engineers in NREL’s Biofuels Division are using their con-siderable skills in biochemistry, microbiology, and environmental science tofind solutions for some troublesome toxic waste problems. This six-pagebrochure introduces the people and explains how they work with industryto find “bioremedies” for many earthly ills involving the contamination ofindustrial waste streams by toxic metals and organics.

Solar Industrial Program 1994 ReviewDOE/GO-10095-125, DE95004025

What if you could use highly concentrated sunlight to turn environmentalcontaminants into simple, harmless molecules? Or install a large, inexpen-sive metal “wall” outside your building to warm up the air inside—and saveon heating bills? You can do both, and more. This 16-page booklet describeshow DOE’s Solar Industrial Program staff worked with industry in 1994 onnumerous projects to develop energy-efficient, cost-effective processes andproducts like these.

Hydrogen Program OverviewDOE/GO-10095-088, DE94011827

Small wonder that so many people believe versatile hydrogen will be theenergy carrier of the twenty-first century: it can be produced from water,and when burned, its byproduct is also harmless water. Utility planners andtransportation engineers are excited about such a potentially self-sustaining,environmentally benign system for energy production and use. This informa-tive 28-page booklet describes DOE’s current R&D programs highlightingthe critical role of renewable energy technologies in developing and refininghydrogen production, transport, and storage.

NREL Information Resources Catalog, 1994NREL/SP-336-7233, DE94011900

You say the kind of publication you need isn’t listed on this page? Tryour 75-page Information Resources Catalog, which lists hundreds of NREL’smost recent periodicals, general-interest publications, technical reports, andjournal articles on a raft of topics in renewable energy and energy efficiency.The catalog covers 22 subjects ranging from basic sciences to wind energy.Order forms are included.

These publications are available without charge from NREL’s Document Distribution Serv-ice, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401-3393, (303) 275-4363, FAX (303) 275-4053.

Publications


Calendar/Technical Reports

NREL-Hosted Meetings2nd Biomass of the AmericasAugust 21 through August 24; Portland, OregonDori Nielsen, (303) 275-4350, FAX (303) 275-4320

PV Performance and ReliabilitySeptember 7 through September 8; Lakewood, ColoradoJeri Wagner, (303) 275-4317, FAX (303) 275-4320

Clean Cities ConferenceSeptember 10 through September 13; St. Louis, MissouriJeri Wagner, (303) 275-4317, FAX (303) 275-4320

TechView ‘95September 20 through September 21; Golden, ColoradoDori Nielsen, (303) 275-4350, FAX (303) 275-4320

Gas Turbine/Renewable ConferenceOctober 12 through October 13; Denver, ColoradoJeri Wagner, (303) 275-4317, FAX (303) 275-4320

National/International Meetings1995 ISES Solar World Congress—In Search of the SunSeptember 9 through September 16; Harare, ZimbabweThe Conference Convenor, In Search of the Sun, 1995 ISES Solar

World Congress, P.O. Box MP 119, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe

IEA Photovoltaic Power Systems ConferenceSeptember 17 through September 20; Sun Valley, IdahoInternational Energy Agency, J. Abramowski, 2 rue Andre Pascal,

F-75775, Paris Cedex 16, France, Telefax 0033/1/4524-9475

13th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and ExhibitionOctober 23 through October 27; Nice, FranceADEME, 30 rue Gadeau de Kerville, F-76100, Rouen, France

Fifth International Seminar on Double Layer Capacitors and SimilarEnergy Storage SystemsDecember 4 through December 6; Deerfield Beach, FloridaFlorida Educational Seminars Inc., (407) 338-8727,

FAX (407) 338-6887

6th International ASES Conference: Thermal Performances of theExterior Envelopes of BuildingsDecember 4 through December 8, Clearwater Beach, FloridaOak Ridge National Laboratory, Thermal Envelopes Conference,

P. Love, P.O. Box 2008, Building 3147, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 39831

Technical ReportsThe following technical reports

provide technical informationon some of NREL’s research andanalysis projects. These reportsare avilable in limited quantitiesfrom NREL’s Document Distribu-tion Service at (303) 275-4363 orFAX (303) 275-4053.

Blake, D.M. (January 1995).Solar Photochemistry—Twenty Yearsof Progress, What’s Been Accom-plished, and Where Does it Lead?Order no. TP-433-7209; 9 pp.

Buhl, M.L. (January 1995). GPPUser’s Guide: A General-PurposePostprocessor for Wind Turbine DataAnalysis. Order no. TP-442-7111;39 pp.

Carasso, M. (March 1995).Energy Efficiency and RenewableEnergy Technology Characteriza-tions: Working Definitions, Guide-lines, and Forms. Order no. TP-462-7549; 22 pp.

Corbus, D.; Hammel, C.J. (Feb-ruary 1995). Current Status of Envi-ronmental, Health, and Safety Issuesof Lithium Polymer Electric VehicleBatteries. Order no. TP-463-7540;78 pp.

Nimlos, M.R.; Wolfrum, E.J.;Gratson, D.A.; Watt, A.S.; Turchi,C. (January 1995). Review ofResearch Results for the Photocata-lytic Oxidation of Hazardous Wastesin Air. Order no. TP-433-6943;56 pp.

Ring, S. (December 1994). Envi-ronment, Health, and Safety Issuesof Fuel Cells in Transportation—Vol-ume 1: Phosphoric Acid Fuel-CellBuses. Order no. TP-463-6831;92 pp.

Short, W.; Packey, D.J.; Holt,T.A. (March 1995). A Manual forthe Economic Evaluation of EnergyEfficiency and Renewable EnergyTechnologies. Order no. TP-462-5173; 124 pp.♦


National Renewable Energy Laboratory1617 Cole BoulevardGolden, CO 80401-3393

NREL is a DOE national laboratory managed by the Midwest Research Institute.

For more information on work supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiencyand Renewable Energy, contact David M. Blanchfield, Golden Field Office,(303) 275-4797.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is managed byChristine Ervin, Assistant Secretary

Key NREL ContactsTechnical Inquiries: Steve Rubin, (303) 275-4099Technology Transfer Office: (303) 275-3008Utilities: Gary Nakarado, (303) 275-3072State and Local Governments: Carol Tombari, (303) 275-3057International Programs: Sam Baldwin, (202) 651-7500Media: Kerry Masson, (303) 275-4090

Director’s OfficeCharles F. Gay, Laboratory DirectorBill Marshall, Deputy Director for OperationsLinda Lung, Education Programs

Alternative Fuels DivisionCharles Wyman, Director

Analytic Studies DivisionThomas Bath, Director

Basic Sciences DivisionSatyen Deb, Director

Buildings and Energy Systems DivisionSteve Hauser, Director

Industrial Technologies DivisionHelena Chum, Director

Photovoltaics DivisionAnthony Catalano, Director

Wind Technology DivisionRobert Thresher, Director

Washington, D.C., OfficeEldon Boes, Manager

Bulk RateU.S. Postage

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Golden, Colorado

National Renewable Energy Laboratory1617 Cole BoulevardGolden, Colorado 80401-3393

For address changes and subscriptioninformation, call (303) 275-4363.

Inside this issue:

Director Charlie Gay discusses NREL’s future — page 2Advanced airfoils available for licensing — page 7New market for solar cells in South Africa — page 10Bioremediation cleans up toxic materials — page 15

Empowering America with new energy choices

National Renewable Energy LaboratoryA national laboratory of the U.S. Department of EnergyOperated by Midwest Research Institute

summer1995 scienceandtechnologyatthe ... · charlie gay are using their busi-ness acumen to create...

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