CO2 POWER. If there's too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere why not put it to good use? Instead of finding ways to sequester the greenhouse gas, find a way to use it as an energy resource.

Solar Energy Ltd. of Los Alamos, New Mexico has agreed to purchase 100% of Renewable Energy Corp. (RECO) and, along with it the vision and expertise of Dr. Reed Jensen, formerly of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Under Jenson's guidance RECO will develop a prototype device which will use direct solar energy to turn CO2 into carbon monoxide, oxygen and electricity.

The process deposits high intensity focused ultraviolet and visible light directly on the CO2 molecule, causing it to dissociate. The carbon monoxide would then become a fuel, oxygen would be fed into high efficiency fossil fuel power plants and the electricity would be sold to the power grid. The company hopes to have the prototype ready in a year.

While that project is underway two other prototypes from another Solar Energy Ltd. company are closer to completion. Hydro Air Technologies Ltd. (HAT), also of Los Alamos, will soon complete its prototype HARPS (Hydro Air Renewable Power Systems) and ACES (Air Conditioning Energy System) devices.

HARPS utilizes the energy of vaporization to produce electricity using only dry air and water. ACES is a modification of HARPS and is intended for homes and small businesses. In addition to the electricity, residual cold air would be used for air conditioning.

All the above prototypes must be proven and further developed before commercialization. Visit Solar Energy Ltd. at http://www.solarenergylimeted.com/ .

BALANCED CO2. Biomass energy is considered carbon dioxide neutral as long as the same amount of feed stock used for power generation is regrown. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions if the power it generates displaces electricity generated by fossil fuels. Left to decay or burned as waste, biomass releases CO2 into the atmosphere without being put to productive use.

Trigen-Cinergy Solutions and District Energy St. Paul (DESP) has launched a wood waste biomass cogeneration project with Northern States Power to provide 25 megawatts of electricity for the St. Paul, Minnesota area. Aside from providing electricity for up to 20,000 homes, low pressure steam from the combined heat and power plant will provide heat for 450 downtown St. Paul DESP customers.

The $52 million facility will be the largest of its kind in the U.S. Area waste wood normally burnt openly or buried in landfills will displace the burning of 110,000 tons of coal each year. CO2 emissions will be reduced by 280,000 tons per year.

Another possibility for biomass derived energy is to utilize biomass charcoal. Charcoal can replace coal in existing coal-fired plants or it can be co-fired with coal. Existing receiving, storage and conveying equipment can also be used and make the conversion from coal to charcoal biomass power a relative bargain. Visit Trigen at http://www.trigen.com and learn about charcoal biomass from Transnational Technologies at http://www.techtp.com .

Back Issues ENERGIES...the free weekly e-letter of products, innovation, issues and education in clean, renewable and efficient energy. Visit Green Energy News on the Web at http://www.nrglink.com for past issues. For free subscription contact bmulliken@nrglink.com. Copyright Green Energy News Inc. 1/16/99 vol.3 no.41.