LNG tax
credit US$28,800 per Heavy Duty Truck Approved
Posted on: Thursday, 8 November 2007
Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX: WPT), a global leader in
gaseous-fuelled power technologies, today announced that the United
States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has confirmed tax credit
eligibility for buyers of Westport's liquefied natural gas (LNG) system
for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks.
"This significant tax credit makes Westport's heavy-duty LNG truck
systems not only the most powerful alternative fuel solution available
in the US, but also the most economical choice," said Michael
Gallagher, Westport's President & Chief Operating Officer. "In
addition to the tax advantage, buyers will benefit from a fast payback
on the system cost because of the lower cost of natural gas fuelling."
The Westport LNG engine offers strong environmental advantages,
including significantly lower oxides of nitrogen, or NOx, and
greenhouse gases than the newest diesel trucks, even those using
biodiesel blends.
Customers may be eligible for tax credits of US$28,800 per truck
equipped with the Westport LNG system, as calculated based on the
Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle Credit, part of the Energy Policy Act of
2005. Some limitations to the credit may apply, depending on the
specific circumstances of the customer, and it is recommended customers
contact the IRS or a tax advisor to determine if and how the tax credit
will apply to their truck purchase.
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 LNG incentives are
available to offset LNG truck costs
The U.S. Highways Bill offers tax credits on an LNG System vehicle
purchases. Other state or regional government agencies and natural gas
companies may offer additional incentives for the specific regional
application. For example, the Port of Los Angeles is considering an
incentive program to encourage early adoption of clean LNG vehicles in
the port.
About the Kenworth T800 LNG Truck Specification
The Kenworth T800 is one of the most versatile trucks on the market
today. The T800 serves a variety of applications from linehaul tractors
with the luxurious 86-inch Studio AeroCab® sleeper to severe service
off-highway dump trucks and urban pickup and delivery vehicles. This
operational versatility, coupled with its legendary reliability and
high resale value, gives the T800 unmatched levels of customer
satisfaction. The Westport engine is fueled with LNG - a safe, cost
effective, low carbon, and low emissions fuel. The Westport LNG system
is available with 400 and 450 horsepower ratings and up to 1,750 lb-ft
torque for heavy duty port, freight, and vocational applications. LNG
fuel tanks can be configured to suit customer range requirements.
Trucks are eligible for federal tax credits in the United States and
may be eligible for other state-specific emissions credits.
A typical heavy-duty truck operating cycle uses approximately 5% diesel
fuel and 95% natural gas on an energy basis, and retains the efficiency
of the base engine. The entire system is electronically controlled and
uses a hydraulic LNG pump to pressurize LNG as it leaves the storage
tank.
The LNG fuel system's ability to deliver same horsepower (up
to 580 hp) and torque ratings (up to 1850 lb.ft.) as the diesel
equivalent in heavy-duty truck applications. The system, Westport said,
also maintains the same level of fuel efficiency, which is critical to
the profit margin of trucking fleets.
The fuel system also reduces GHG emissions by over 20% and
PM by 50%
which, according to Westport, could mean a reduction of over 77 U.S.
tons of GHG per year for a heavy-duty truck that covers 125,000 miles
annually.
Financial support San
Pedro Bay Ports' Clean Trucks Program
Southern Counties Express, Inc. (SCE) has placed an
initial order
for 50 Kenworth LNG T800 Class 8 trucks, representing a value of
approximately US$4 million for Westport's LNG heavy-duty engines and
fuel systems. The trucks are being purchased with financial support
from the San Pedro Bay Ports' Clean Trucks Program, an initiative led
by the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach and the South Coast
Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
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California LNG Plant in Boron startup Nov 11, 2008
LNG Production and Storage
The new Clean Energy California LNG Plant in Boron, California began
startup operations on November 11, 2008. It delivered its first tanker
load of LNG fuel to the Carson CA Port Truck LNG fueling station on
November 12, 2008. The plant will continue to supply the Carson station
during the startup process. Regular operations at the new LNG plant are
scheduled to being in mid-December 2008.
The California LNG Plant was built to produce up to 160,000 gallons of
LNG per day, and was designed to be upgraded to produce up to 240,000
gallons of LNG per day. The plant has a 1.5-million-gallon LNG storage
tank for reserves to meet unexpected LNG demand from Clean Energy's
customers and to accommodate plant maintenance procedures.
The plant is expected to be the major supplier for Clean Energy's
commitment to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for their Clean
Truck Program, which envisions the addition of up to 8,000 LNG trucks
to serve goods movement needs at ports.
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CA LNG trucks
available with 400 and 450 hp ratings
Source: Diesel Progress Oct 2008
Westport Innovations Inc. has received an order for nine Kenworth T800
heavy-duty liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks featuring Westport’s High
Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology from CIeanAir Logix of
Oakland, Calif. The trucks will be operated at the Port of Oakland for
hauling containers to and from the seaport and are expected to reduce
particulate emissions by as much as 85%, port officials said. The Port
of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport
and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest
container port in the US. Westport’s HPDI technology will be used in
conjunction with a Cummins ISX G engine fueled with LNG. The engine is
available with 400 and 450 hp ratings and up to 1750 lb.ft. of torque.
The 2006 Westport LNG
System has U.S. EPA and CARB certification.
Kenworth Truck Company
will
expand its presence in the growing market for environmentally friendly,
liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles by beginning production of
Kenworth T800 LNG trucks at its manufacturing facility in Renton,
Wash., in 2009. Under an exclusive agreement with Westport Innovations
Inc. in Vancouver, B.C., Kenworth will use Westport’s LNG fuel system
technology adapted for the Cummins ISX 15-liter engine.
“The Kenworth T800, equipped with a Cummins ISX and Westport’s HPDI
fuel system, offers an industry-leading solution with world-class low
emissions and greenhouse gases, while delivering outstanding
horsepower, torque, and efficiency comparable to a diesel engine,” said
Bob Christensen, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president.
“Kenworth is recognized as a technology leader in the commercial
vehicle market and the exclusive ability to offer this technology
reinforces Kenworth’s reputation as The World’s Best.”
“This agreement with Kenworth creates a dramatic increase in LNG truck
delivery capacity and further strengthens Westport’s ability to
efficiently meet the significant growth in market demand for
environmentally clean LNG trucks from the ports and other fleet
customers,” said Michael Gallagher, president and chief operating
officer of Westport Innovations.
The Kenworth LNG factory installation coincides with the Ports of Los
Angeles and Long Beach announcement to approve a new $1.6 billion Clean
Truck Superfund. The fund will assist replacing many of the 16,800
Class 8 trucks serving the ports with LNG-powered vehicles. The ports
have also introduced a new progressive ban that will remove all
pre-2007 trucks by 2012. Westport’s LNG fuel system is the only
alternative fuel technology currently qualified for financial support
under the ports’ Clean Truck program.
Kenworth and Westport Innovations have previously collaborated on an
aftermarket basis to equip Kenworth T800s with LNG fuel systems. These
trucks are already serving the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. In
addition, Pacific Gas & Electric Company in San Francisco recently
became the first utility in the nation to operate Kenworth T800
LNG-powered trucks.
Westport will open a new LNG Fuel System Assembly Center in British
Columbia to support the Kenworth factory initiative and to rapidly
increase production capacities of LNG fuel systems to meet growing
market demand. The Westport Assembly Center will facilitate significant
capability for fuel system assembly and engine conversions for delivery
direct to the Kenworth plant.
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Financial support San
Pedro Bay Ports' Clean Trucks Program
Southern Counties Express, Inc. (SCE) has placed an
initial
order for 50 Kenworth LNG T800 Class 8 trucks, representing a value of
approximately US$4 million for Westport's LNG heavy-duty engines and
fuel systems. The trucks are being purchased with financial support
from the San Pedro Bay Ports' Clean Trucks Program, an initiative led
by the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Long Beach and the South Coast
Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
"With funding beginning to flow for the San Pedro Bay Ports' Clean
Trucks Program, SCE has stepped forward to be the first significant
fleet adopter and can now realize the benefits of clean, cost-effective
LNG trucks powered by Westport's high-efficiency, low-emission
technology," stated Michael Gallagher, President and Chief Operating
Officer of Westport. "LNG fuel for heavy-duty trucks offers cleaner
operation with a domestically available fuel."
The LNG trucks were assembled at Inland Kenworth in
California and
are ready for deployment. The trucks are expected to commence container
movement service at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (the San
Pedro Bay Ports) over the next few weeks.
Brian Griley, SCE CEO, added, "As one of the first
port operators
running clean trucks using domestic LNG fuel, Southern Counties will be
making a significant contribution to the San Pedro Bay Ports' goal of
reducing harmful particulate matter, NOx and greenhouse gases in the
Los Angeles basin."
The Green Fleet(TM) division of SCE has been in the
making for over
two years. It is a program designed to implement alternative fuel,
heavy duty trucks into SCE's fleet. The Green Fleet will begin
operation with LNG trucks owned by SCE and leased to owner-operator
independent contractors. The 50 new LNG trucks will complement SCE's
existing fleet of approximately 150 trucks.
http://www.thegreenfleet.com/index.html
Nine other Port trucking firms have also committed
to the new LNG
trucks in the initial port deployment. Westport expects to conclude
purchase agreements with these fleets over the next few weeks now that
funding approvals from the Ports and the City of Los Angeles are in
place.
About Westport's LNG System for Heavy Duty Trucks
Westport's LNG system for heavy duty Class 8 trucks
offers
class-leading emissions, including lower greenhouse gas emissions than
comparable diesel engines, and allows trucking fleets to move to
lower-cost, domestically available natural gas and/or biogas. The
Westport LNG system comprises LNG fuel tanks, proprietary Westport fuel
injectors, cryogenic fuel pumps and associated electronic components to
facilitate robust performance and reliable operation. The Westport LNG
system is 2007 EPA and CARB certified to 0.8g/bhp-hr NOx and
0.01g/bhp-hr PM. Kenworth, Southern California dealer Inland Kenworth,
Westport and Clean Energy Fuels received the prestigious Alternative
Fuel Vehicle Institute's 2007 Industry Innovation Award for this truck
product.
About the Kenworth T800 LNG Truck Specification
The Kenworth T800 is one of the most versatile
trucks on the market
today. This operational versatility, coupled with its legendary
reliability and high resale value, gives the T800 unmatched levels of
customer satisfaction. The Westport engine is fuelled with LNG - a
safe, cost effective, low carbon, and low emissions fuel. The Westport
LNG system is available with 400 and 450 horsepower ratings and up to
1,750 lb-ft torque for heavy duty port, freight and vocational
applications. LNG fuel tanks can be configured to suit customer range
requirements. Trucks are eligible for federal tax credits in the United
States and may be eligible for other state-specific emissions credits.
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Peterbilt
3 Factory-Installed LNG Configurations
October 14th, 2008
Vancouver, BC and Denton, TX—Peterbilt Motors Company announced today
that the company will offer three new liquefied natural gas (LNG)
configurations on its Models 387, 386 and 367 in 2009. The
factory-installed LNG system is part of a joint agreement between
Peterbilt and Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT/Nasdaq:WPRT) to
provide natural gas versions of select Peterbilt aerodynamic and
vocational vehicles.
“LNG is emerging as an alternative clean, high-performance fuel for
trucks that is domestically available and economical. Peterbilt
is
committed to delivering products that reduce harmful emissions and
realistically provide the performance and economics that our customers
need,” said Bill Jackson, Peterbilt General Manager and PACCAR Vice
President.
Michael Gallagher, President and Chief Operating Officer of Westport,
added “Peterbilt is a strong commercial production partner and brings a
high level of expertise and production capacity to meet the increasing
interest for LNG trucks. Peterbilt trucks were part of our first road
trials, in a field test with Norcal Waste in San Francisco in 2001.”
More recently, Peterbilt and Westport have collaborated on a project to
build Model 386 LNG evaluation trucks for Wal-Mart under a funding
program with Mojave Air Quality Management District.
The LNG Models 387, 386 and 367 complement Peterbilt’s existing Model
320 CNG vehicles. To date, over 50 Model 320 CNG Trucks are in
operation throughout the U.S.
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El Toro Orders 15 LNG Trucks with ISX G Engine
October 6th, 2008
VANCOUVER, BC – Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT/ Nasdaq:WPRT), a
global leader in alternative fuel, low-emissions transportation
technologies, announced today that El Toro Export, LLC of El Centro,
California, a processor, marketer, and exporter of various agricultural
commodities, has ordered 15 heavy-duty liquefied natural gas (LNG)
trucks, featuring Westport’s ISX G engine with High Pressure Direct
Injection (HPDI) technology. The trucks will be deployed in the
Imperial Valley area of Southern California. The seed, grain, and hay
processing company will use the trucks as part of their 30-truck fleet,
hauling the commodities for distribution in the U.S. and for export to
Asia and elsewhere.
“Our export business can benefit from cost saving opportunities by
running LNG trucks,” said Bill Plourd, President of El Toro Export.
”Combining solid product performance in the Kenworth T800 trucks with a
lower fuel cost in comparison to diesel provides a unique advantage to
El Toro. In addition to fuel savings, we are able to access the San
Pedro Ports without added drayage fees,”
“El Toro represents the third export business in Southern California to
see the value proposition Westport’s LNG system provides customers,”
said Michael Gallagher, President & Chief Operating Officer of
Westport Innovations. “The environmental and economic benefits of
clean, low-carbon, and domestic LNG are proving attractive to an
increasing number of truck fleets. The Westport ISX G and LNG fuel
system provides operators with a robust, high performance package and a
comprehensive support program.”
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Large Non-Port Order
for 20 T800 LNG Trucks
June 5th, 2008
VANCOUVER, BC – Westport Innovations Inc. (TSX:WPT), a global leader in
alternative fuel, low-emissions transportation technologies, announced
today that HayDay Farms of Blythe, California has ordered 20 heavy duty
liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks featuring Westport’s High Pressure
Direct Injection (HPDI) technology. The HPDI technology will
allow
HayDay’s new Kenworth T800 trucks to operate in regional haul
applications with the same power and efficiency as a diesel engine and
provide superior economic and environmental benefits by running natural
gas.
“Providing a highly efficient, low-emission Westport ISX G 15 litre
engine with a comprehensive support program for customers like HayDay
Farms gives Westport a distinct competitive advantage,” stated Michael
Gallagher, President & Chief Operating Officer of Westport
Innovations. “The economic drivers in concert with environmental
benefits for customers like HayDay Farms are now creating unprecedented
interest in our new natural gas fuel systems for heavy duty trucks.”
About HayDay Farms
Hayday Farms was founded in 1986 with the acquisition of Toshin
Trading, Inc., a hay brokerage company located in Blythe, California.
Along the way, the name was changed to reflect its core business.
HayDay Farms focuses on producing quality feed for foreign and domestic
dairy and beef cattle. Show and stock horses are also a market segment
with alfalfa, timothy, oats, Bermuda hay and hay cubes made available
to ranch stables and feed stores. In addition, the Company has created
a show horse hay package consisting of small compressed hay bales of
alfalfa and Bermuda hay. Additional information on HayDay Farms can be
found on their website at www.haydayfarms.com.
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Wal-Mart LNG trucks
in Apple Valley, CA
In part by funding
from the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District
February 5th, 2008
VANCOUVER, BC and BENTONVILLE, AR – Westport Innovations Inc.
(TSX:WPT), a global leader in gaseous-fuelled power technologies, today
announced that Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. will introduce four liquefied
natural gas (LNG) fuelled Peterbilt 386 trucks into service at their
distribution centre in Apple Valley, California.
The deployment will be supported in part by funding from the Mojave
Desert Air Quality Management District’s (MDAQMD) Mobile Source
Emission Reductions Competitive Bidding Program.
Wal-Mart, which operates one of the nation’s largest private fleets,
announced its “Sustainability 360” program in 2007 which promotes a
holistic approach to integrating sustainability throughout its business.
The objective of this project is to demonstrate the efficiency and
significant emissions reduction benefits of Westport LNG fuel systems
in heavy-duty trucks. The four trucks in this proposal will be used in
Wal-Mart’s over-the-road (OTR) goods distribution operations in the
MDAQMD. The project will also demonstrate the effectiveness of
Westport’s commercially available technology and will work to grow the
heavy-duty natural gas market.
“Our experience shows that by using natural gas, Westport’s LNG fuel
system can help Wal-Mart reduce their fleet vehicles’ greenhouse gas
emissions by some 20 per cent and NOx emissions by between 30 and 50
per cent over their diesel equivalents,” said Michael Gallagher,
president and chief operating officer of Westport. “This represents a
significant milestone for Westport as we have been actively pursuing
large private and commercial truck fleets. We are very proud to be
given the opportunity to showcase Westport’s innovative approach to
commercial transportation with an environmental leader like Wal-Mart.”
“Wal-Mart is careful to consider the civic and environmental impact its
operations have in the communities it serves around the world,” says
Tim Yatsko, senior vice president of transportation at Wal-Mart. “We
are continually looking for new, innovative ways to reduce the
emissions of our fleet. This program will give us an opportunity to
evaluate Westport’s low-emissions solution in real-world operations.”
John Wall, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Cummins
Inc.
added, "Cummins remains committed to supporting the integration of
Westport’s unique LNG fuel system with the Cummins ISX engine. We
are
confident that Wal-Mart will be impressed with the performance of the
HPDI-equipped ISX and that it is the right complement to Cummins ISX
clean diesel power in their demanding applications."
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Clean Air Partners (CAP)
Has delivered 33 Caterpillar C12 engines
equipped
with
CAP's patented DualFuel technology to Sysco Food Services of Los
Angeles
Inc., a subsidiary of Sysco Corp. Sysco LA has embarked upon an
ambitious
clean fuels program for its Southern California truck fleet. In
2001,
Sysco LA and Clean Air Partners began to replace Sysco LA 's fleet
of heavy-duty
diesel trucks with units powered by LNG. By 2008, the company
hopes
to have its entire LA -based fleet converted to Clean Air Partners
Dual-Fuel
LNG system, effectively reducing the truck's emissions by over 46
percent.
Through this program, CAP's technology, will also Sysco LA's petroleum
fuel consumption by nearly a million gallons per year, the company
said.
The dual-fuel engines use 85 percent natural gas with 15 percent diesel
used for pilot injection. About 1500 heavy-duty truck engines
that
have been retrofitted with CAP dual-Fuel systems and products are
currently
deployed in the US, Mexico and various European countries. CAP's
sub-components
are used in low emission vehicles produced by automotive and truck
manufacturers.
CAP is Currently developing low emission electric power generation
products
for the distributed Generation market.Largest fleet of (LNG) municipal
refuse trucks in the U.S.
Sn Diego, Calif - June 3, 2002
Clean Air Partners (CAP), a leader
in the
development
and commercialization of high-tech solutions to reduce
engine
emissions, and the City of Los Angeles (L.A.) have just
made
history by creating the largest fleet of Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) municipal refuse trucks in the U.S.
Last year, L.A. put
Clean Air
Partners' Dual-Fuel
technology to the test when it ordered 10 trucks powered by CAP's
proprietary
and patented Dual-Fuel systems. One year later, with the original 10
trucks
still in operation, L.A. decided to expand the size of its
alternative fuel fleet by ordering an additional 120 trucks with CAP
Dual-Fuel
technology engines installed in them. The resulting 130 unit fleet will
be the largest LNG powered municipal refuse truck fleet in the U.S.
This move makes the City of L.A. the leader
in
the effort
to improve the region's air quality by reducing vehicular exhaust
emissions.
Based on the new order,
CAP will
deliver 120
Caterpillar C10 on-highway truck engines equipped with its patented
Dual-Fuel
technology, through Caterpillar dealers Power Systems Associates (PSA)
and Rush Peterbilt of Pico Rivera.
L.A.'s 120 new trucks will be equipped with
the
Caterpillar
C10 engines, which produce 315 brake horsepower (bhp) and 1,050
Foot/Pounds
(ft.-lb.) of torque. While burning 85 percent natural gas (for power)
and
only 15 percent diesel fuel (as a liquid spark plug), CAP's Dual-Fuel
technology
engines provide up to a 50 percent reduction in emissions without
sacrificing
diesel-like performance
CAP Sales Manager, Mark Hunsberger
said,
"We're excited
to be launching this expansion, which is the result of a partnership
that
developed over the last three years with several City of Los Angeles
departments.
L.A.'s original 10 trucks currently rely on mobile fueling.
However, plans are underway for a permanent LNG station to be located
in
the city's San Fernando Valley area.
Clean Air Partners is no
stranger to
large alternative
fuel fleets
The world's largest heavy-duty natural gas
truck
fleet,
which utilizes CAP Dual-Fuel engines, operates in Mexico City.
The
480-unit fleet of refuse-collection vehicles, which service Mexico City
daily, is setting an environmental precedence for the rest of the
country.
The vehicles have been in continual
operation
since May
of 1999. Currently, the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
supplier
is adding a third filling station to increase the fueling options for
the
vehicles.
Clean Air Partners was founded in
1991 to
develop technologies
that would allow diesel engines to operate with the low
emissions
benefits of natural gas while retaining the power, efficiency,
longevity,
and cost effectiveness of compression ignition engines. CAP offers
time-proven
products, which are based on its patented proprietary technologies.
About
1,300 heavy-duty truck engines that have been retrofitted with CAP
Dual-Fuel
systems and products are currently deployed in the U.S., Mexico and
various
European countries. CAP's sub-components are used in low emission
vehicles
produced by some of the world's largest automotive and truck
manufacturers.
CAP is currently developing innovative low
emission Electric
Power Generation products for the distributed generation
market.
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Conversion
Package Aims at Cleaning Up Stationary
Diesel Gen-Sets
Steve Blankinship, Associate
Editor Power
Engineering
April, 2002
A
package that converts diesel truck engines
to dual fuel
power units that run primarily on natural gas may have dramatic
potential
for the stationary gen-set market as well. Clean Air Partners, Inc.
(CAP)
has already retrofitted 1,500 heavy-duty trucks with the system, which
converts diesel engines to run on a blend of diesel and compressed or
liquid
natural gas, thereby producing substantially less nitrous oxide and
particulates
than engines burning diesel alone and without sacrificing diesel-like
performance.
Using only a small amount of diesel fuel as an ignition starter, the
modified
diesel engines produce equivalent horsepower and torque, while burning
mostly natural gas.
The
company is also currently developing
propane as an
alternate second fuel source.
In partnership with Caterpillar?s truck
engine
division,
CAP has developed and sells Caterpillar dual-fuel systems for
electronically
controlled truck engines. Because stationary gen-sets operate at a
constant
speed, the distributed generation application is simpler to control for
optimum efficiency and emissions.
The
cost to convert a typical standby gen-set
to make
it meet 2 gram NOx/HP-hr levels is about $100/kW. A conventional
Caterpillar
3412 600 kW standby gen-set can be converted to dual fuel use for about
$100/kW.
"The
process offers distinct advantages when
applied to
stationary distributed generation installations," says Daniel Kabel,
CAP?s
CEO. "While the CAP system is based on the principle of its patented
pilot
diesel injection, it does not require ultra-high injection pressure,
which
translates into fewer maintenance requirements and higher overall
operating
efficiency."
Kabel says that for DG applications,
the CAP
system provides
a relatively inexpensive way to retrofit an existing standby diesel
powered
generator and turn it into one that could be used for peak shaving.
No change to the diesel engine heads,
pistons, or
injectors
is required. It can also be deployed as a new prime-power dual-fuel
gen-set,
that can run in 100 percent diesel mode, when natural gas is
unavailable.
The system provides near diesel
efficiency and
power
output allowing a lower capital investment than is required with an
equivalent
spark-gas engine gen-set. With no spark plugs required, operation and
maintenance
costs are lower also.
The proprietary control system
maintains close
control
of all of the engine?s critical combustion parameters, enabling it to
always
use the leanest fuel mixture possible and allowing maximum substitution
of natural gas for diesel fuel and minimal emissions.
Most
current emissions requirements limit a
reciprocating
gen-set to 2 gram/HP-hr of NOx.
"All CAP systems meet this level without
after-treatment,"
says Kabel. The Southern California Coastal District and East Texas
both
have more stringent requirements than the rest of the country. All
reciprocating
gen-sets in those locations are required to use after-treatment on the
gases they emit to ensure that requirements are met. Kabel foresees
that
the rest of the U.S., and other developed countries, will eventually
move
to similar, more stringent requirements.
"CAP knows how to obtain low emissions
levels
without
after-treatment, and is currently developing systems based on this
know-how,"
says Kabel. "Even at this time, in strict emission areas such as
Atlanta,
Chicago, Dallas and New York, CAP can retrofit a standby diesel gen-set
using its lowest technology system, and run the gen-set as a peak
shaver
for five times longer than it would be allowed to run as a diesel-only
standby unit." That?s significant, he says, because standby
gen-sets
are an under-utilized asset. "If turning these idle assets into peak
shavers
is relatively inexpensive, doing so can make them very valuable when
high
peak electricity usage rate adjustments occur, such as in the
summertime."
CAP is
presently arranging beta test sites to
demonstrate
the performance of its dual-fuel solutions for DG.
Those sites are scheduled to become
operational
this
year.
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