Green fuel easy to cell

Daimler-Chrysler motor company has set up a trial on fuel cell technology in a fleet of city buses. They will be deployed in 11 cities around the world for a period of 2 years and Perth in Western Australia is one of those cities and the only city outside of Europe to have this trial. The trial is planned to start late 2002.

Three buses will be trialled in each city and this project is called NEFLEET and it takes place after the success in 1999 of the NEBUS trial of electric-powered buses. The Daimler-Chrysler company has developed this international initiative to promote alternative, environmentally-friendly fuel technology.

Fuel cells work by bringing about a controlled reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and is the only way known to achieve zero emission of pollutants. Noise pollution is reduced  and emission pollution is eliminated with fuel cell technology. Source: SMH

Byron Bay to Establish Eco Hamlets

The Byron Bay council, NSW, has approved plans for seven eco-hamlets to be developed in the surrounding area. These hamlets will be based on personal involvement in the designing of the homes, running of and maintaining the hamlets, as well as creating social contracts to resolve disputes and build community spirit.

Each village will be designed along the best energy plan, landscape and housing layout, pedestrian movement, water cycle management and include a social contract. They will not be designed around the car as most traditional housing developments are.

They are to based on the plan used in similar European eco-villages in Denmark, Netherlands and Italy, though these will be the first in Australia and will become an example of what may be mainstream housing and community development.   Source: SMH

BP leading in Clean Fuel Project

BP’s pro-active stance on environmental issues is not only well ahead of government regulation, it’s also being followed by other leading resource companies such as Shell, Dupont, Boeing and Toyota.

BP’s focus on greenhouse gas abatement has seen the company curb its own emissions as well as commit to the production of clean fuels.

The $500m Clean Fuels Project at Brisbane’s Bulwer Island refinery is a winning example of how to tackle greenhouse gas emissions.

Within the refinery, an industrial gas plant meets the hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen needs of the plant and will also supply the wider industrial gas market in southern QLD and northern NSW. And, a 32MW cogeneration plant on site meets the steam and power needs of both the gas plant and the refinery. Later, it’s expected to generate electricity for the Queensland power grid.   Source: SEDA's Allies Express.

Sponsorship Opportunity

SEDA is hosting a Government Energy Managers Forum on 6th March 2001. There is an opportunity for sponsorship of this event which will attract around 150 Energy Managers from NSW government.  For more information call Jeffrey Bye on ph. 02 9249 6180.   Source: SEDA's Allies Express.