Greenhouse Gas Technology News 

April 2003 NEWSLETTER Issue 8 

Published by the Greenhouse Gas Technology Center 

An Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Organization Sponsored by 

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Partners from Industry, Government, and Academia. 

Interest Grows in 

Technologies That 

Produce and Use 

Biogas 

The U.S. EPA has estimated that methane emissions 

from livestock manure management were 17.0 million 

tons of carbon equivalents, accounting for about 10 percent of the total methane emissions in the U.S. The 

majority of these emissions were generated from large 

swine and dairy farms that manage manure as a liquid; 

EPA anticipates methane emissions from livestock 

manure in the U.S. will increase by more than 25 percent between 2000 and 2020. 

Biogas production from livestock manure management 

facilities is of increasing interest to the energy and agricultural industries, as well as to regulatory and other 

communities. Technologies commonly referred to as 

anaerobic digesters 

rapidly decompose 

manure in a controlled environment 

using methagenic 

bacteria, allowing for 

the recovery and 

use of methane-rich 

biogas. This low-Btu 

biogas can be used 

to fuel combined 

heat and power 

(CHP) generators 

that produce electricity, process heat, domestic hot 

water, and other energy products. Digesters can also 

reduce odors along with other air pollutants, while reducing the risk of ground- and surface-water pollution. 

Anaerobic digester at a 750-head dairy 

farm in New York. 

The GHG Center has several active biogas technology verifications in process now: (1) a reciprocating 

GHG Center Verifies 

Ingersoll-Rand PowerWorksTM 

Microturbine CHP 

The GHG Center has completed independent performance verification of a new distributed power generation 

device, the Ingersoll 

Rand PowerWorksTM 

70 kW Microturbine 

Combined Heat 

and Power (CHP) 

System. The gasfired PowerWorksTM 

was designed for 

use on-site at commercial and industrial establishments, 

and is specified by 

Ingersoll-Rand to 

produce a nominal 

70 kW of three phase electrical power and 51,100 Btu/hr. 

Microturbine shed, located at the 

Crouse Community Center. 

Verification occurred at the Crouse Community Center, 

a 60,000 square-foot assisted living facility in 

Morrisville, New York that cares for elderly residents. Similar to a 

hospital, the 

Center has private 

residential rooms, 

social and recreational areas, a 

commercial-scale 

laundry, and food 

service facilities. 

The PowerWorksTM 

was installed to 

provide electricity, 

domestic hot water, 

and hot waterbased space heating. 

Entrance of the shed housing the 

IR PowerWorksTM. 

(continued on page 2, see Biogas) (continued on page 2, see Microturbine CHP) 
Greenhouse Gas Technology News 

Biogas (continued from page 1) 

engine-CHP unit burning biogas from a swine waste digester, (2) a microturbine-CHP unit burning biogas from the same swine waste digester, (3) a 

microturbine-CHP burning biogas from a dairy farm digester, (4) a fuel cellCHP using biogas from a human waste digester, and (5) a biogas purification technology. All of these applications convert biological waste into renewable energy, while reducing on-farm energy costs and in some instances, 

producing excess electricity for sale to the grid. Also, they can produce marketable by-products such as soil amendments while simultaneously mitigating 

air pollutants, GHG emissions, water pollution and nuisance odors. 

"These waste-to-energy systems may 

offer win-win strategies for some farmers, and it seems like the GHG Center is 

getting more inquiries for verification of 

animal and human waste-related mitigation technologies," said Dr. David 

Kirchgessner, U.S. EPA Project officer 

for the GHG Technology Center. "It's 

not just energy production devices we're 

hearing about, it’s alternative digester 

systems, non-digester solutions, waste 

additives, and others.” The Center 

recently agreed to verify the performance of a new digester additive which is 

claimed to increase biogas production rates in anaerobic digesters and reduce biogas contaminants that produce 

air pollution when burned. If proven, it could enhance the economic viability of on-farm energy systems and furBiogas fueled engine-generator-CHP 

in use at a swine farm. 

Bill Chatterton, GHG Center Field-Testing 

Leader, reluctantly poses 

in cow manure storage bin. 

Anaerobic digester at a 5000-head 

swine farm in Colorado. 

ther reduce the environmental impact from animal waste. 

(continued from page 1) 

Microturbine 

CHP 

Existing boiler at Crouse Community Center 

that will be operated less due to the recovery 

of waste heat from the PowerWorksTM. 

Waste heat extracted from hot exhaust gases leaving the microturbine 

reduces the need for heat from the facility’s two existing gas-fired boilers. 

Normally the facility uses all of the electricity produced by the PowerWorksTM 

however, on those occasions when the facility demand drops below the capacity of the PowerWorksTM, power is exported to the local grid. 

Performance parameters verified include electrical output and heat recovery 

rate, electrical and thermal efficiency, total system efficiency, power quality 

(frequency, power factor, voltage and current total harmonic distortion), emission rates of GHG's and conventional air pollutants, and estimated emission 

reductions for GHG's and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The unit operates exclusively at 100 percent capacity, and during testing measurements of total system efficiency ranged from 46 to 51 percent. Use of the PowerWorksTM at 

Crouse was estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 34 percent as a 

result of electrical grid offsets combined with a reduced need for hot water 

from the existing gas-fired boilers. Emissions of nitrogen oxides were relatively low, about 1 part per million (ppmvd@ 15% O2). 

A synopsis and performance evaluation report can be obtained free of charge from the U.S. EPA website at 

http://www.epa.gov/etv/verifications/vcenter3-10.html or the GHG Center website at http://www.srirtp.com/Publications2.htm. 

April 2003 - Issue 8 - Page 2 
Greenhouse Gas Technology News 

GHG Emissions in the USA. (Source: US EPA) 

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 

Fuel cell-powered city bus. 

Fuel cell-powered heavy duty truck. 

GHG Center Mulls Verification of Transportation Technologies 

Are Heavy Duty Vehicles Poised for Technology Change? 

Emission inventories indicate that electricity generation produces about one-third of the carbon equivalents 

released in the USA, while transportation activities produce about one-fourth (see chart). The GHG Center continues to evaluate innovative electricity generation technologies, but its involvement in the transportation sector is limited. “The Center is verifying fuel efficiency changes that accompany the use of a new lubricant for 

SUV's and light-duty trucks, but there are no other transportation technologies lined up for evaluation,” said Steve 

Piccot, Center Director. “Given its GHG emissions significance we are currently examining several transportation 

sub-sectors, searching for innovative technology candidates.” 

Passenger cars and light-duty trucks account for about 60 

percent of the total transportation-related GHG emissions in 

the USA. Changes have occurred to improve the performance of these vehicles, and efforts continue in the areas of 

fuel efficiency and emissions. In contrast, the heavy-duty 

vehicle sub-sector, which includes trucks and buses, and 

accounts for almost 20 percent of transportation-related 

GHG emissions in the USA, has seen fewer changes. The 

Center is investigating this sub-sector, and in a recent meeting of heavy-duty vehicle 

experts, the Center participated in a Delphi market survey of those 

experts. The survey was intended to identify new technology trends in 

the heavy-duty vehicle market. Excerpts from that survey are described 

below. 

Delphi Survey Results (Sponsored by WestStart-CALSTART) 

A modified Delphi market forecast exercise was conducted as part of the 

3rd Annual Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Conference which was held in 

Tempe Arizona on February 19-21. While not a pre-selected group of 

experts, as is traditional in a Delphi exercise, attendees of the Clean 

Heavy-Duty Vehicles Conference did represent many different interest 

groups. Attendees comprised original equipment manufacturers (8%), suppliers and developers (34%), fleet 

and truck users (11%), military (11%), government agencies (12%), 

research groups (12%), fuel suppliers (8%), and others (4%). 

The survey indicated that over the next decade, diesel fuel and engines 

will face a serious challenge defending their current dominance in the 

heavy-duty market. Key motivators of change will be tough new emission regulations, coupled with rising fuel costs. Prime challengers to 

diesel will include truck systems powered by natural gas and hybrid 

technology. Such are the overall findings of the industry market forecast 

conducted by WestStart-CALSTART (www.calstart.org). 

A cross section of the participants believe the market share for diesel 

engine systems, now the dominant technology in heavy-duty trucks, will 

significantly decline by 2010. The results forecast diesel slipping to less 

(continued on page 4, see Transportation) 

April 2003 - Issue 8 - Page 3 
Greenhouse Gas Technology News 

Transportation 

(continued from page 3) 

than 80% of new heavy-duty vehicles sold by the year 2010, and to less than 

66% of the new heavy-duty truck market by 2020. In contrast, by 2010 natural gas engine systems are projected to account for 10% of the market, hybrid 

systems for roughly another 10%, with fuel cell systems somewhere under 2%. 

By 2020, while natural gas is projected to remain essentially steady, increasing 

to just over 11% of new trucks hybrids are projected to increase to 17% and fuel 

cell systems will capture as much as 6% of the new truck market. These changes 

represent a significant potential shift in technologies and fuels. 

Respondents provided forecasts in three other areas. In looking at alternative formulations of diesel fuel, they projected that gas-to-liquid or synthetic diesel formulations would make up 5-10% of the 2010 market for diesel fuels, and biodiesel somewhat less than 5%. By 2020, the market share for each of these forumulations is expected to rise to near 

10%. Emission requirements and fuel costs are the two major factors motivating a shift to diesel alternatives by 2010 

followed by energy security issues and global warming. By 2020, respondents believe that fuel costs will emerge as 

the primary issue motivating change, followed by emissions requirements, energy security and global warming. 

Finally, respondents felt it highly likely that in ten years, natural gas and hybrid systems will be used in urban refuse 

trucks, urban delivery trucks, and transit buses. While most felt is highly unlikely that fuel cell drive systems would 

emerge in urban refuse or delivery trucks, 57% thought it likely that fuel cells would emerge in transit buses (see earlier photo). Most respondents felt long haul transport trucks were unlikely applications for natural gas, fuel cells (see 

earlier photo) and hybrids, although only 56% thought them unlikely candidates for hybrids. 

Oberg Industries, a leading supplier to the automotive industry, recently announced the results of a survey of attendees at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2003 World Congress. Oberg said participants were asked to project the number of new vehicles in 2010 that will feature the top 20 new automotive technologies. 73 percent of respondents believed that fuel cells will be in fewer than five percent of new vehicles in 2010, while 80 percent expected hybrid 

electric motors and diesel engines could reach up to one-fourth of new vehicles by the end of the decade. 

Center Verifies COMM Engineering’s Environmental Vapor 

Recovery Unit - Interest From Users Spikes 

Recovers waste gases at oil and gas facilities 

The GHG Technology Center has completed independent performance 

verification of a new device, the patented Environmental Vapor Recovery 

Unit (EVRUTM) developed by Lafayette, LA.-based COMM Engineering, 

USA. 

The EVRUTM technology uses energy from existing high-pressure natural gas pipelines to power its waste gas recovery functions (external 

power is not required). It captures valuable waste gases at different 

pressures using a closed-loop system, and then pressurizes those 

gases to allow their discharge into existing natural gas pipelines for 

sale and use - paying for itself in short order. Independent performance 

verification of the EVRU was conducted at the TotalFinaELf El Ebanito site near McAllen, Texas. A synopsis 

and final performance evaluation report can be accessed free of charge at the U.S. EPA website at 

http://www.epa.gov/etv/verifications/vcenter3-10.html or at the GHG Center website at http://www.srirtp.com/Publications2.htm 

"COMM Engineering worked with the GHG Center for approximately one year in our quest for technology verification," said Mark Goodyear, president of COMM Engineering. "We can attest that this program helps cost-effective 

New wide design X-ONE truck tire from 

Michelin is claimed to improve fuel economy by 

about 10% over conventional dual tire system. 

Installation of GHG Center flow monitoring equipment 

on the COMM EVRU system. 

(continued on page 5, see COMM) 

April 2003 - Issue 8 - Page 4 
Greenhouse Gas Technology News 

COMM Engineering EVRUTM at the 

Total FinaELf Test Site in Texas. 

COMM 

(continued from page 4) 

technologies obtain credibility with the end user, and provides an unbiased 

assessment of a technology. This experience has been a brilliant example 

of how a government agency can facilitate free enterprise and enhance the 

environment. We have been bombarded with requests for quotations since 

the verification was completed and are hearing from many potential customers that we never worked with before," Goodyear affirmed. 

Technology performance parameters verified for the EVRUTM include waste 

gas recovery rate, annual gas recovery rate, value of gas saved, total 

installed cost, and reduction in GHG and hazardous air pollutant emissions. 

The Center estimated that annual methane emission reductions would be 

678 tons per year if the test site previously vented the waste gas to the 

atmosphere, or 68 tons per year if the test site previously used conventional vapor recovery units. For facilities that currently vent waste gas, a simple pay-back for the EVRU was estimated to be 0.3 years, but for facilities 

that currently use conventional vapor recovery units, the pay back would be longer. 

New Advanced Energy Stakeholder Group Forming 

Subcommittee of energy experts meets in Florida to help chart a path forward 

The GHG Technology Center hosted a meeting of about 30 Electricity Generation Stakeholders in Arlington, 

Virginia in 1999. Distributed electricity generation (DG) technologies were at the top of their list of technology 

priorities. Since that 1999 meeting, the GHG Center prepared performance verification protocols for microturbines, spark-ignition engines, CHP systems, and fuel cells. The GHG Center also established partnerships with 

organizations interested in measuring DG technology performance; and completed performance verification of 

three DG devices. The GHG Center is currently verifying seven other DG systems installed at farms, a private 

residence, a supermarket, a chemical plant, a wastewater treatment plant, and an assisted-living facility. 

Spurred on by these activities and a mission to cost-effectively reduce GHG emissions from electricity generation, the GHG Center has announced its intention to broaden its focus in the clean electricity generation area. 

"We announced our intention in 2002 to broaden our technology focus in electricity generation, then formed a 

small but diverse subcommittee of energy sector experts to help plan and form a new Advanced Energy 

Stakeholder Group," said Stephen Piccot, GHG Center Director. On December 10, 2002, the new 

Subcommittee met at the Rozen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida. 

The Subcommittee recommended the Advanced Energy Stakeholder Group include no more than 50 individuals and strive for diversity, including state and federal energy offices, trade associations (e.g., building and 

hospitality industries), carbon trading groups, offshore oil and natural gas companies, electric utilities (especially those in green power programs), university industrial & agricultural extension programs, the DOE 

Advanced Coal Research Program, and others. Subcommittee members felt that the performance parameters included in the GHG Centers current testing protocols (emissions, energy conversion, and power quality 

performance parameters) were appropriate, but that other parameters of major interest (reliability, availability, 

maintainability, and durability) should also be considered. 

The Subcommittee listed technologies that are promising and worthy of further research or demonstration 

(see table of high-priority technologies). It was proposed that this list be presented to the full Advanced 

Energy Stakeholder group for prioritization and expansion at the first meeting, which has been tentatively 

scheduled for the summer of 2003. 

(continued on page 6, see Stakeholders) 

April 2003 - Issue 8 - Page 5 
Greenhouse Gas Technology News 

Stakeholders (continued from page 5) 

ACEEE 

Bowman Power Systems, Inc. 

California Air Resources Board 

California Energy Commission 

Canadian Climate Change Secretariat 

CANMET Energy Technology Center 

City of Portland - Energy Division 

Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts (pending) 

Delta-Montrose Electric Association 

Duke Energy - Science/Technology Planning 

E Source 

Emerging Energy Technologies 

New England Governor's Conference 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority 

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation 

Portland General Electric 

Portland General Electric 

Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation 

STM Power, Inc. 

Tampa Electric Company 

Tennessee Valley Authority 

The Natural Gas Supply Association 

United Nations Environment Programme 

University of California Irvine 

USDOE - National Energy Technology Laboratory 

USDOE - Oak Ridge National Laboratory 

USDOE - Office of Coal and Environmental Systems 

USDOE - Sandia National Laboratory 

USEPA - Office of Air and Radiation 

USEPA - Office of Atmospheric Programs 

Vermont Public Power Supply Authority 

Yankee Gas Services Co., Northeast Utilities 

Fuel cells 

Microturbines 

Reciprocating Engines (industrial and commercial co-gen) 

Small gas turbines (industrial and commercial co-gen) 

Stirling Engines 

Hybrid Systems 

Ground-source heat pumps 

Bio-diesel fuel use at stationary energy 

production operations 

Biomass gasification 

Bio-fuel blending/re-formulation 

Animal waste utilization 

(e.g., new Danish anaerobic digester) 

Landfill gas recovery and utilization 

Electrical transmission systems 

(high temperature superconductors 

substation-based power conditioning systems) 

Power plant efficiency improvements 

(low pressure turbine blades, 

condenser re-tubing, motor controllers) 

Energy storage 

Carbon sequestration 

Hydrogen storage and use 

Power inverters 

(more efficient, flexible, and multi-source types) 

Efficient energy use at mass railway transit operations 

Energy efficiency and energy conservation measures 

GHG monitoring 

Photovoltaics 

Wind 

Small Hydro 

Organization Participating on the Subcommittee High Priority Technologies Listed by the Subcommittee 

GHG Center to Collaborate with ASERTTI 

The Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions 

(ASERTTI), established in 1990, is a non-profit corporation composed of state and regional organizations that have 

energy research and technology transfer responsibilities. ASERTTI is developing and validating field and laboratory performance testing protocols for several distributed generation technologies under a $1 million contract from 

the U.S. Department of Energy. Three state energy office members of ASERTTI are providing co-funding. 

"We are preparing contracts for the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and Southern Research Institute to develop and 

validate national field and laboratory performance testing protocols for microturbines, reciprocating engines, small 

turbines, and combined heat and power systems," said Dr. Arthur Soinski, a California Energy Commission distributed power expert and technical leader of ASERTTI's effort. "Southern Research will develop field-testing protocols, GTI will develop laboratory protocols, and both groups will coordinate their stakeholder and other activities 

closely throughout the process." 

“The plan is to use a Stakeholder-based process to guide protocol development and consensus building for national protocols," said Stephen Piccot, GHG Center Director. “It’s commendable that ASERTTI is committed to providing nationally accepted protocols to the public, and we’re looking forward to helping them accomplish that” said 

Dr. David Kirchgessner, U.S. EPA Project Officer for the GHG Center. “ASERTTI plans to use a stakeholder-based 

process, similar to the one we have used since 1998, and this has prompted EPA, through the Environmental 

Technology Verification (ETV) Program to collaborate with ASERTTI in several areas of mutual interest.” 

Contact the Greenhouse Gas Technology Center by calling Stephen Piccot at Southern Research Institute 

(919/806-3456), or David Kirchgessner at the U.S. EPA (919/541-4021). Additional information can be viewed on 

the GHG Center Web site at www.sri-rtp.com or the U.S. EPA ETV Web site at www.epa.gov/etv. 

April 2003 - Issue 8 - Page 6