[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 32 (Thursday, February 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DISTRIBUTED POWER HYBRID ENERGY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the 
Distributed Power Hybrid Energy Act. This bill would direct the 
Secretary of Energy to develop and implement a strategy for research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application of distributed 
power hybrid energy systems.
  Distributed power is modular electric generation or storage located 
close to the point of use, well suited for the use of renewable energy 
technologies such as wind turbines and photovoltaics, and also of 
clean, efficient, fossil-fuel technologies such as gas turbines and 
fuel cells.
  Distributed power can avoid the need for and cost of additional 
transmission lines and pipelines, reduce associated delivery losses, 
and increase energy efficiency. In addition, distributed power can 
provide insurance against energy disruptions and expand the available 
energy service choices for consumers.
  By their very nature, renewable resources are distributed. Our 
ability to cost-effectively take advantage of our renewable, indigenous 
resources can be greatly advanced through systems that minimize the 
intermittency of these resources. Distributed power hybrid systems can 
help accomplish this.
  ``Hybridizing'' distributed power systems--combining two or more 
renewable sources or a renewable and a fossil source--enables us to 
offset the weaknesses of one technology with the strengths of another. 
For example, in a hybrid system, the intermittency of wind power can be 
offset by the reliability and affordability of power generated by a 
microturbine.
  My bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to develop a distributed 
power hybrid systems strategy identifying opportunities for and 
barriers to such systems, technology gaps that need to be closed, and 
system integration tools that are necessary to plan, design, build and 
operate such systems.
  Mr. Speaker, distributed generation represents the most significant 
technological change in the electric industry in decades. Knowing this, 
it makes sense to focus our R&D priorities on distributed power hybrid 
systems that can both help improve power reliability and affordability 
and bring more efficiency and cleaner energy resources into the mix. My 
bill would help us do this. I look forward to working with Members of 
the House to move forward with this important initiative.
  For the benefit of my colleagues, I've attached a fact sheet that 
explains the bill in more detail.

           The Distributed Power Hybrid Energy Act Fact Sheet

       The Distributed Power Hybrid Energy Act would direct the 
     Secretary of Energy to develop and implement a strategy for 
     research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
     application of distributed power hybrid energy systems.


                               Background

       Distributed power is modular electric generation or storage 
     located close to the point of use. Distributed systems 
     include biomass-based generators, combustion turbines, 
     concentrating solar power and photovoltaic systems, fuel 
     cells, wind turbines, microturbines, engines/generator sets, 
     and storage and control technologies. Distributed resources 
     can either be grid connected or operate independently of the 
     grid. In contrast to large, central-station power plants, 
     distributed power systems typically range from less than a 
     kilowatt (kW) to tens of megawatts (MW) in size.
       Distributed power is well suited for the use of renewable 
     energy technologies such as wind turbines and photovoltaics, 
     and also of clean, efficient, fossil-fuel technologies such 
     as gas turbines and fuel cells.
       Many benefits can be realized by producing electricity and 
     heat closer to the customer and integrating these distributed 
     energy resources with our traditional central-station 
     generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. 
     Combined heat and power systems at industrial plants or 
     commercial buildings can be three times more efficient than 
     conventional central generating stations. When facilities 
     such as hospitals and businesses with computers or other 
     critical electronic technology can get power from either the 
     grid or their own generating equipment, energy reliability 
     and security are greatly improved.
       Distributed power can avoid the need for and cost of 
     additional transmission lines and pipelines, reduce 
     associated delivery losses, and increase energy efficiency. 
     In addition, distributed power can provide insurance against 
     energy disruptions and expand the available energy service 
     choices for consumers.
       Since 1998, the Department of Energy's Distributed Power 
     Program has been working to reduce barriers to the widespread 
     adoption of distributed energy resources. One area of 
     research that has so far not received the attention it 
     deserves, however, is distributed power hybrid systems.
       By their very nature, renewable resources are distributed. 
     Our ability to cost-effectively take advantage of our 
     renewable, indigenous resources can be greatly advanced 
     through systems that minimize the intermittency of these 
     resources. Distributed power hybrid systems can help 
     accomplish this.
       ``Hybridizing'' distributed power systems--combining two or 
     more renewable sources or a renewable and a fossil source--
     enables us to offset the weaknesses of one technology with 
     the strengths of another. For example, in a hybrid system, 
     the intermittency of wind power can be offset by the 
     reliability and affordability of power generated by a 
     microturbine. Distributed power hybrid systems also have the 
     potential for fuel flexibility--for instance, using biofuels 
     for distributed power systems such as gas turbines and fuel 
     cells. In addition, hybrid systems can be developed to serve 
     multiple uses, such as combined heat and power, offering the 
     opportunity to provide reliable energy services at lower 
     cost.


                              Legislation

       This legislation would direct the Secretary of Energy to 
     develop a distributed power hybrid systems strategy 
     identifying opportunities for and barriers to such systems, 
     technology gaps that need to be closed, and system 
     integration tools that are necessary to plan, design, build 
     and operate such systems. This strategy might provide for the 
     development of system integration tools for developing such 
     systems; tests of distributed power hybrid systems, including 
     field tests with industry and cost-shared demonstrations of 
     such systems to validate performance; data to characterize 
     grid operations, including interconnection requirements; and 
     precise resource assessment tools to map local resources for 
     distributed power hybrid systems.
       The legislation calls for the implementation of the plan 
     over five years, along with its integration into the 
     Department of Energy's Office of Distributed Energy 
     Resources. The bill would also require an annual report on 
     the use of and experience with distributed power hybrid 
     systems, in addition to identifying the remaining R&D issues 
     to ensure the successful application of these systems.
       To carry out the bill's requirements, the bill would 
     authorize $60 million over fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

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