Nova Scotia firm seeks ideal spots for wind power
Last Updated Mon, 05 Jul 2004 15:35:17

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/07/05/business/windpower_040705

HALIFAX - A Halifax-based company is planning to spend $24 million to find the ideal locations to produce wind power in Nova Scotia.

Renewable Energy Services Ltd. said Monday it will erect 18 to 20 wind turbines in Digby County, Guysborough County, Cape Breton, Halifax and the South Shore.

The 65-metre high turbines will test for air density and the steadiness of the winds.

"There's an optimal wind speed," the privately-owned company's chief executive Larry LeBlanc said. "You don't want too much … you want wind with good density and it has to be predictable and sustained."

Installation of the towers is expected to begin in the fall. Power generated during the field tests will be used in nearby areas.

Bureiskaya GES ups FOREM deliveries to 701 mln kWh over the H1, 7% above the target.

06 July 2004 13:00

Bureiskaya GES widened its actual deliveries of electric power on FOREM to 701 mln kWh by H1 results, 7% above the target, Bureiskaya GES said.

The indicators have risen due to the additional loading target set by RAO UES.

Bureiskaya GES' construction started in 1985, 2 hydroelectric generators were launched in summer of 2003. 1.25 bln kWh have been produced to-date.

The 3rd generator will be put in operation in Nov. of 2004 while the final completion of the project is scheduled for 2009.

RAO UES power plants ups production by 2.1% on year to 331.7 bln kWh by H1 result.

05 July 2004 17:20

RAO UES power plants produced 331.7 bln kWh in the first half-yr, 2.1% up on year, RAO UES said.

Russia's energy consumption stood at 460 bln kWh, 2% up on year.
Hydroelectric power plants widened production by 16% on year to 65.1 bln kWh, heating power plants produced 266.6 bln kWh, in line with the H1 of 2003.

KYOTO PROTOCOL WON'T WORK IF RUSSIA DOESN'T JOIN IN, WARNS EUROPEAN COMMISSION


MADRID, July 5 (RIA Novosti) - Will Russia ratify the Kyoto protocol? The European Commission is apprehensive on the point.

The protocol, which limits air pollution with carbon dioxide, will not enter into force unless Russia ratifies it, warned Loyola de Palacio, European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport and Energy. She was addressing a Madrid conference on, "The 21st Century: New Technological Opportunities for Air Transport and Its Users".

If Russia fails to ratify the protocol, "the European Union will face a bad problem-it will have to urgently work out other arrangements to limit air pollution by the many countries. Otherwise, we shall have to recur to fining and transfer production to countries which least pollute the air."

Summary pollution by signatory countries is to make 55 per cent of the global total-or the Kyoto protocol will not be confirmed. Meanwhile, such summary pollution makes a mere 44 per cent.

The USA, which accounts for 36 per cent of the global total pollution, flatly refused to ratify the Kyoto protocol. Russia's exhaust made 17 per cent of global in 1990, so its ratification may get the protocol going.

The European Commission Vice-President called all countries to step up R&D for pioneer clean and renewable energy sources.

Smolenskenergo EGM seals outsourcing Smolensk GRES, completes the 1st stage of OGK-4.

05 July 2004 19:25

Smolenskenergo EGM approved June 30 the company's reorganization by splitting off six mono-profile companies - Smolensk Generation Co., Smolensk Backbone Grid Co., Smolensk Energy Management Co., Smolenskenergosbyt sales company, Smolensk Energy Repair Co. and Smolensk GRES, sources with Smolenskenergo told AK&M.

Smolensk GRES is the last power plant split off from AO-Energo which is not 100% sub. of UES. It will be entered into the OGK-4 along with Shaturskaya GRES, Yaivinskaya GRES, Surgutskaya GRES-2, Berezovskaya GRES-1 (the last two powere plants are 100% owned by RAO UES).

Mosenergo gets 2.1 bln rbl from Mosenergo.

05 July 2004 15:53

Mosenergo has raised 2.1 bln rbl loan with the Bank of Moscow, the bank said.

The funds will go for repair purposes and secure the required fuel reserves to get ready for the heating season.

Mosenergo still holds a majority stake in Moscow MTR-Svyaz alternative operator.
Mosenergo has failed to dispose of 51% stake in Moscow MTR-Svyaz alternative operator, according to the list of Mosenergo-affiliated companies made out as of July 1, 2004.

The decision to sell such stake was taken by the Board of Directors around a year ago.

The stake is to be sold at price which will at least equal the market price, i.e. 10.455 ths rbl. Another holder Tekhnokom (41%) has the right of first refusal.

Sovietology Strikes Back

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/07/05/006.html

Bank Failure Endangering Nuclear Plants — Companies
Created: 02.07.2004 14:38 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 16:08 MSK
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/07/02/dialog.shtml

MosNews

The heads of several Russian energy companies have said that backlogged payments from the under-fire Dialog-Optim bank may lead to “emergency situations” at some of the nation’s nuclear plants which the energy companies supply.

The energy companies have called on the Central Bank to take “immediate measures” to regulate the conflict, a Dialog-Optim spokesman told MosNews.

He said, however, that the transactions involving the companies were between their own banks, and could not have affected atomic energy plants.

The four companies — Khimenergo, Energokaskad, Energogigant, and Spetsenergoprodukt-95 — are all clients of the Dialog-Optim bank and say the bank has frozen their accounts and is not making transfers.

The companies have not informed Dialog-Optim directly, however, the spokesman told MosNews.

As a result of the delays, repair work at several nuclear electric plants is under threat of cancellation, Ekho Moskvy radio quoted the letter as saying. The postponement of repairs at the Kalininskaya Nuclear Electric Plant, which is located only 300 kilometers from Moscow and is as powerful as the late Chernobyl plant, may lead to disaster, the letter says.

The companies say they renounce all responsibility for the nuclear stations if the Central Bank fails to take appropriate measures.

The bank’s troubles began when clients issued complaints earlier this month that Dialog-Optim bank is limiting payouts on deposits and processing all client payments with delays. The problems sparked further fears of a liquidity crisis among banks that started when Sodbiznesbank was stripped of its banking license.

Dialog-Optim, meanwhile, denies its role. “We cannot influence atomic energy in Russia,” the bank’s spokesman told MosNews. “[Nikolai Shinkarev of the Federal Atomic Energy Agency] said it is unacceptable to mention atomic energy in the context of the liquidity crisis.”

The Central Bank, quoted by Ekho Moskvy radio, has also said that nuclear plants are under no risk as of yet.

Cigarettes are good for good for you, trees cause acid rain
and lets resume atmospheric nuclear testing ! A Hummer in every American driveway !

Let the Russians and OPEC states invest in energy efficiency and alternate energy. The American motorist can foot the bill at the pump.

I think I will invest in energy efficient light bulb plants in places like Poland but don't worry .. I have Canadian oil and gas income trusts.

Florida today space news

http://www.floridatoday.com/news/space/

Space station status reports and site links

http://www.spaceref.com

Space station gyro fixed after tricky spacewalk

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996103

ISS CREW REPAIRS THREE OF THE FOUR FAULTY GYROSCOPES
FLIGHT CONTROL CENTRE, Korolev, July 1 (RIA Novosti's Alexander Kovalev) - The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) has repaired three of the four gyroscopes that are responsible for the ISS orientation, Vladimir Solovyov, flight controller of the Russian segment, told journalists immediately after the ISS crew, which had worked in open space for six hours, returned to the station.

"The crew soon saw that they can do it and by the middle of the job Padalka and Fink became over-energetic," said Solovyov. Flight engineer Michael Fink worked in the same spacesuit he wore during the previous failed mission in open space in the night of June 24/25.

"Don't trouble trouble, they say, and though I assured you that spacesuit would not be used again, Michael wore it this time," said the Russian official. In his words, the two-man crew of commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineer Michael Fink "worked very well; we could see on the monitors that they wanted to finish the job maximally quickly." They completed the drawn-out repairs of the faulty US gyroscope on July 1.

Since they worked 40 minutes ahead of schedule, the crew also did several additional jobs; in particular, they mounted engineering equipment on the outer surface of the Russian docking module Pirs.

The first emergency job in outer space in the night of June 24/25 lasted only 10 minutes and was cut short because of a sharp fall of oxygen pressure in Fink's spacesuit. It turned out later that he had not turned fully on the injector lever that injects oxygen into the spacesuit. This is why pressure plummeted and the crew had to rush back to the station.

Padalka and Fink replaced the electricity supply remote control block of the US-made gyroscope, which called for turning electricity off in the US module for a short time. According to the Russian Flight Control Centre, the initial programme of the 9th mission (Padalka and Fink) provided for two routine space walks: in late July and in late August. But life changed these plans.

As of now, the ISS orientation is ensured by the three working gyroscopes of the station's four and by Russian jet micro-engines. At first, the crew planned to use the US EMU spacesuits for repairing the second gyroscope on June 10. All preparatory measures for the crew and for surface services were planned for this day. But it turned out that the cooling system of one of the suits was not working. By the suggestion of the US side, the crew worked in the Russian Orlan M spacesuits, which called for changing the schedule of preparations for and the cycles of work in outer space, because the crew moved to the gyroscopes not from the American but from the Russian module. Consequently, the date was set for June 16.

American medics thought the optimal date would be June 28, as the change in the work and sleep routine of the crew would be balanced with the astronauts' biological rhythms. The medics said a disruption of the rhythm would reduce the effectiveness of work.

But the Russian doctors do not care so much for biological factors. For Russian specialists, the key factor for choosing the date and time of working in outer space is the availability of maximum radio communication zones through Russian ground-based stations, which ensures full-scale control of the astronauts' work and health. That condition could not be fulfilled on June 28. At the American request, the joint groups of Russian and American specialists made an additional analysis of the situation to choose the new date for the mission and reached a compromise decision, setting it for the night of June 24/25 Moscow time. But it was aborted because of Fink.

Consequently, the second simultaneous mission in outer space in the history of the ISS was completed on the second try.

Gyro Tested After Spacewalk Success

http://www.scienceblog.com/community/article3157.html

PUTIN CONGRATULATES IRAQI PRESIDENT


MOSCOW, July 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's President Vladimir Putin forwarded a message of congratulations to President Ghazi Yawer of Iraq on the latter's inauguration, reports the Kremlin press service.

"Your activities on this high post will, I am sure, promote peace and security in your country, and guarantee the sovereignty and lawful rights of the Iraqi nation," says the message.

President Putin hopes the long-established Russian-Iraqi contacts will make progress to the benefit of the two nations.

Cameco Provides Details of Previously Announced Uranium Agreement
Companies Amend Deal for Uranium from Dismantled Russian Nuclear Weapons
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada June 16, 2004


http://www.cameco.com/media_gateway/news_releases/2004/news_release.php?id=85

Cameco Corporation and its two partners announced today that they have finalized an amendment to their agreement to purchase uranium derived from dismantled Russian nuclear weapons. The amendment is subject to approval by the US and Russian governments. Cameco had previously provided an overview of this development in its 2004 first quarter report. The recent signing of the agreement provides the opportunity for the companies to explain in more detail the amendment and its potential impact on the uranium concentrate and UF6 conversion markets.

“Cameco is proud to be part of an international initiative that is successfully turning uranium from Russian nuclear weapons into fuel for clean energy,” said Jerry Grandey, Cameco’s president and CEO.

Please see the attached joint announcement by Cameco and its two partners for more detailed information.

Cameco, with its head office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is the world’s largest uranium producer. The company’s uranium products are used to generate electricity in nuclear energy plants around the world, providing one of the cleanest sources of energy available today. Cameco’s shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

Centerra shares start trading on TSX
Cameco's gold spinoff closes IPO worth up to $253-million


http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/WireFeedRedirect?cf=GlobeInvestor/config&vg=BigAdVariableGe...

M. Fradkov confirmed to A. Chubais that reorganization decisions on energy systems and interregional integration not to be reconsidered.

01 July 2004 19:39

Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has confirmed to RAO UES CEO A. Chubais today that no reorganization decisions on energy systems and interregional integration of the companies outsourced from AO-energos will be reconsidered. They are to be implemented in part and in whole, RAO UES said.

Anatoliy Chubays is satisfied by the sums of the current today
conversation with prime minister Mikhail Fradkov Moscow.

translated - unedited

1 July 2004

The chairman of administration RAO THE "EES OF RUSSIA" Anatoliy
Chubays stated, that it is satisfied by the sums of the conversation current today
with prime minister Mikhail Fradkov. "during almost 2- X of hours we thoroughly discussed practically all
aspects of the reform of electro-energetics. Today I obtained the confirmation of principally important position of
government - the need for reform for doubt does not undergo, a question about its cancellation does not stand ". According to Anatoliy Chubays, in the course of today's encounter it was also confirmed, that the previously solutions about the reorganization of power
systems accepted, on the interregional integration of the newly created companies, they are not subject to revision and they must be realized entirely. As emphasized Anatoliy Chubays, the management of energy-holding is ready entirely to be set in
operation on the estimation of that, which is made in the course of reform, to the introduction of reasonable corrective and the realization of
these solutions.

Mitsubishi sets up hydrogen business venture in Canada

http://quotes.freerealtime.com/dl/frt/N?art=C2004070100183x8864&SA=Latest%20News

Tenneco Automotive Works With Industry Consortium to Develop Integrated Automotive Fuel Cell Power System


http://www.stockhouse.com/news/news.asp?tick=TEN&newsid=2352123

PUTIN CONGRATULATES CANADA GOVERNOR GENERAL AND PRIME MINISTER
MOSCOW, July 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent congratulatory messages to Canadian Governor General Andrienne Clarkson and Prime Minister Paul Martin on the national holiday - Canada Day, the Kremlin press service reports.

In his message, the Russian president was pleased to point out that Russia highly valued good-neighborly, friendly relations between the two countries. He particularly noted that Russian-Canadian relations were developing consistently on the basis of partnership and mutual understanding.

"This is a firm basis for our close cooperation in such essential areas as the fight against international terrorism and WMD proliferation, development of trade and investment ties, and exploration of the Arctic," stressed the Russian leader.

Putin expressed confidence that multifaceted Russo-Canadian cooperation would gradually advance in the interests of both peoples, security and progress in the world.

Merrimack, N.H.-based firm works to help lower cost of solar energy


http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73176317875360&Avis=NS&Dato=2...

Town first on LI to use wind power

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-liwind0701,0,5908770.story?coll=ny-liminute-headline....

ISS CREW REPAIRS THREE OF THE FOUR FAULTY GYROSCOPES


FLIGHT CONTROL CENTRE, Korolev, July 1 (RIA Novosti's Alexander Kovalev) - The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) has repaired three of the four gyroscopes that are responsible for the ISS orientation, Vladimir Solovyov, flight controller of the Russian segment, told journalists immediately after the ISS crew, which had worked in open space for six hours, returned to the station.

"The crew soon saw that they can do it and by the middle of the job Padalka and Fink became over-energetic," said Solovyov. Flight engineer Michael Fink worked in the same spacesuit he wore during the previous failed mission in open space in the night of June 24/25.

"Don't trouble trouble, they say, and though I assured you that spacesuit would not be used again, Michael wore it this time," said the Russian official. In his words, the two-man crew of commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineer Michael Fink "worked very well; we could see on the monitors that they wanted to finish the job maximally quickly." They completed the drawn-out repairs of the faulty US gyroscope on July 1.

Since they worked 40 minutes ahead of schedule, the crew also did several additional jobs; in particular, they mounted engineering equipment on the outer surface of the Russian docking module Pirs.

The first emergency job in outer space in the night of June 24/25 lasted only 10 minutes and was cut short because of a sharp fall of oxygen pressure in Fink's spacesuit. It turned out later that he had not turned fully on the injector lever that injects oxygen into the spacesuit. This is why pressure plummeted and the crew had to rush back to the station.

Padalka and Fink replaced the electricity supply remote control block of the US-made gyroscope, which called for turning electricity off in the US module for a short time. According to the Russian Flight Control Centre, the initial programme of the 9th mission (Padalka and Fink) provided for two routine space walks: in late July and in late August. But life changed these plans.

As of now, the ISS orientation is ensured by the three working gyroscopes of the station's four and by Russian jet micro-engines. At first, the crew planned to use the US EMU spacesuits for repairing the second gyroscope on June 10. All preparatory measures for the crew and for surface services were planned for this day. But it turned out that the cooling system of one of the suits was not working. By the suggestion of the US side, the crew worked in the Russian Orlan M spacesuits, which called for changing the schedule of preparations for and the cycles of work in outer space, because the crew moved to the gyroscopes not from the American but from the Russian module. Consequently, the date was set for June 16.

American medics thought the optimal date would be June 28, as the change in the work and sleep routine of the crew would be balanced with the astronauts' biological rhythms. The medics said a disruption of the rhythm would reduce the effectiveness of work.

But the Russian doctors do not care so much for biological factors. For Russian specialists, the key factor for choosing the date and time of working in outer space is the availability of maximum radio communication zones through Russian ground-based stations, which ensures full-scale control of the astronauts' work and health. That condition could not be fulfilled on June 28. At the American request, the joint groups of Russian and American specialists made an additional analysis of the situation to choose the new date for the mission and reached a compromise decision, setting it for the night of June 24/25 Moscow time. But it was aborted because of Fink.

Consequently, the second simultaneous mission in outer space in the history of the ISS was completed on the second try.

Condition of Interenergoservis worker wounded in Iraq improves

24.06.2004, 15.32

According to Loginov, there have been improvements in Anatoly Korenkov's condition, but doctors still regard it as serious. His wife has come from Stavropol to tend to him in an IT ward.

A Sklifasovsky hospital doctor told Tass that after evacuation to Moscow, Korenkov underwent yet another, fourth surgery, in connection with the gunshot wound to the backbone.

Korenkov's doctors said it was premature to make prognoses on how long his convalescence will be.

On May 26, a bus carrying a group of Interenergoservis workers came under fire near Baghdad. Two people have been killed and another seven were wounded in the attack.

After the incident, the company administration decided on full evacuation of its personnel.

On May 27, May 28 and June 4, Emergency Ministry's places airlifted from Iraq 220 citizens of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

There are no Interenergoservis workers in Iraq at the present time.

U.S. doctors who initially operated on Korenkov, twice refused to allow his evacuation because of the patient's condition.

He was flown to Moscow after his condition stabilized and slightly improved.

Russia supplies Iraq plant

Russia's Power Machines Group has signed a supply contract to deliver equipment to Iraq's Dibis thermal power plant. The order consists of two 160 MW gas turbines and two turbo-generators to be delivered by 2005.

In a connected deal, Power Machines Group is to supply the Iraqi Transportation and Communication Ministry with 30 diesel locomotives scheduled for delivery by year-end.

These contracts will be carried out whilst the group works on a third contract to construct the Yusifiya thermal power plant and the Al Adaim hydro-power plant.

RUSSIA WILL SUPPORT THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ


NEW YORK, July 1 (RIA Novosti's Andrei Loshchilin) - Russia is ready to help Iraq's Interim Government within the framework of international efforts and through bilateral channels, said Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov, who is attending the New York session of the UN Economic and Social Council.

Fedotov said the Russian Embassy in Baghdad "is energetically interacting with the new Iraqi authorities... We rely on our rich experience and the traditions of mutually beneficial trade and economic contacts with that country."

According to the deputy minister, "the interim government of Iraq has shouldered grave responsibility... It has a chance to justify the trust of the people and the international community and lead the country to democratic change."

On the other hand, much will depend on the ability of the interim government to "demonstrate to the people that the occupation was over and the new stage in Iraq's development differs substantially from the previous one. ...If the Iraqis feel the difference, they will support their government. If not, the situation can develop extremely negatively."

Fedotov said Moscow hopes that the new Baghdad government will act on the Russian offer of convening an international conference on Iraq with the participation of all political forces of the country and neighbouring states, which was confirmed in the recent UN Security Council Resolution 1556. "Such a conference would broaden the social and political foundations of the Iraqi government in the country and to rally broad support in the region," said the deputy minister.

ISS cosmonaut successfully complete their task
RosBusinessConsulting. Thursday, Jul. 1, 2004, 9:12 AM Moscow Time

Russian cosmonaut, the commander of the International Space Station crew, Gennady Padalka and NASA astronaut Edward Michael Fincke have successfully conducted a spacewalk this night, Rossiya (Russia) radio reported. The two crew members had to get to the fried circuit breaker outside the space station to restore power supplies one of to the gyroscopes that keep the station steady and pointed in the right direction. They spent less than 6 hours outside the ISS.

RAO UES interested in cooperation with Iran.

RosBusinessConsulting. Wednesday, Jun. 30, 2004, 7:36 PM Moscow Time

RAO UES is highly interested in collaboration with Iranian energy companies, RAO UES head Anatoly Chubais declared at a briefing in Zelenograd (the Moscow region). According to him, there are some promising directions of cooperation concerning Azerbaijan and Armenia. Chubais also mentioned that a tripartite meeting of representatives of the Russian, Iranian and Tajikistani electrical energy sectors would be held in the near future. Participants will discuss a number of joint investment projects.

Scotland too reliant on wind for energy
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=751322004

JAMES REYNOLDS
ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT

Key points
• Committee says too much reliance on wind power for renewable targets
• Members say more concentration on wave and tidal power needed
• Executive target of 40% of electricity from renewable sources by 2020

Key quote
"New technologies such as wave and tidal power have been neglected and all the investment has gone into developing onshore wind farms. This policy is hugely controversial in rural Scotland, where communities have felt under siege from a proliferation of planning applications for wind farms" - Murdo Fraser, Energy Committee member

Story in full ENERGY policy in Scotland is far too reliant on onshore wind farms to try and meet the country’s renewable targets and should instead shift the focus to other forms of green electricity generation such as wave and tidal power, a report has stated.

The new report, by Holyrood’s Enterprise Committee, severely criticises the Executive’s approach to renewables and calls for a more balanced approach to energy policy to ensure Scotland becomes a leading economy for the development and production of marine renewables.

Just as the advantage Scotland held in the development of wind technology 25 to 30 years ago was allowed to let slip to competing economies such as Denmark, so the same could happen with wave and tidal technologies (in which Scotland is currently leading the way) without greater incentives, the report stated.

Committee convener Alasdair Morrison said: "It is clear the Executive will meet its target of 18 per cent of electricity production from renewable sources by 2010.

"However, almost all of this comes from onshore wind. This is neither sustainable nor sensible."

To solve the problem, which the report said was "unintentionally working against the development of renewable energy sources other than wind", it calls on the Executive to create a comprehensive Scottish energy policy in co-operation with Westminster.

This would shift the focus from large onshore wind farms to other forms of renewable power. The main tool for doing this should be a change to the current Renewable Obligation schemes to provide the incentives lacking.

The report said: "Opportunities and potential benefits ... are so great that the Executive should be prepared to invest significantly in the sector. It should be treated as a priority sector ... and the full range of business support mechanisms should be brought to bear on its development."

It also warned the Executive’s long-term target of 40 per cent of electricity coming from renewables by 2020 must not be met entirely from large-scale onshore wind farms. Substantial shortcomings in the current planning system for wind farms were also highlighted, and the Executive was again chided for a lack of guidance and leadership.

The report called for the Executive to develop a national strategic framework for wind farm applications, and to discuss with local councils how this could be achieved at a local level.

Several organisations, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Green Party, have been calling for such a framework for more than a year now, but were informed each time by the Executive that the current system was satisfactory.

Although he did not address many of the criticisms in the report, deputy enterprise minister Lewis McDonald said the Executive supported and promoted a range of green energy developments, including tidal, wave, biomass and solar power.

He said: "There is more wind energy development in Scotland at the moment because the technology is more advanced.

"We are confident we can meet our 18 per cent target of electricity from renewable sources by 2010 mainly through wind and hydro, and expect other renewable energy developments to come forward in due course."

Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser, a member of the committee, claimed the report contained serious criticisms of the Executive.

He said: "New technologies such as wave and tidal power have been neglected and all the investment has gone into developing onshore wind farms.

"This policy is hugely controversial in rural Scotland, where communities have felt under siege from a proliferation of planning applications for wind farms."

Fuel Piles’ Power Output Exceeds 90%
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=7/1/2004&Cat=9&Num=27

TEHRAN (PIN) — Deputy minister of energy for energy affairs stated that fuel piles enjoyed a higher electricity output than thermal power plants which exceeded 90 percent. The output of thermal power plants is only 45 percent.

Hamid Chitchian added that a fuel pile strategic committee has been established since one and a half years ago where all universities and concerned governmental institutes are sharing ideas.

“Fuel piles operate just opposite to electrolysis machines; that is, during electrolysis water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. However, fuel piles combine oxygen in the air with hydrogen injected into the pile, producing energy and water,” he said.

Deripaska Loses UES Board Bid

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/07/01/041.html

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT INCREASES ITS STAKE IN UES ELECTRICITY GIANT


MOSCOW, June 30 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government's stake in the electricity giant Unified Energy Systems (UES) has increased to 52.68 percent, up from 52.5%, Board Chair AlexanderVoloshin said at an annual shareholder meeting Wednesday. The increase has resulted from the liquidation of the National Investment Corporation and the transfer of its assets to the Property Ministry, he said.

The number of the UES shareholders topped 350,000 by the end of the year under review, Voloshin reported. Its assets include stakes in 242 companies, the property of six electricity plants, electricity supply networks, and control facilities.

Unified Electricity Systems Inc. holds shares in 73 regional electricity corporations, 44 electric power plants, and six managing energy companies, the UES Chair said.

Speaking at the annual shareholder meeting, Chief Financial Officer Dmitri Zhurba told about the Tax Ministry's decision to write off some 1.4 billion roubles owed to it by UES in fines (the dollar buys 29 roubles, on current rates). This decision was made in view of the fact that in 2003, UES had fulfilled all of its obligations as to the settlement of the rescheduled debt to the federal Treasury. Moscow City Hall is going to follow suit and write off 2.2 billion roubles that the company owes it in debt payments, Zhurba said. According to him, UES' rescheduled debt to the Treasury now totals 6.6 billion roubles,

UES Chief Executive Officer Anatoly Chubais does not expect any major reshuffles in the Board of Directors, customarily elected at annual shareholder meetings. "We are not anticipating a revolution on this matter, and I don't think any strategic transformations will occur in the Board's membership," Chubais said. In his prediction, only some of the minority shareholders may be removed while all major ones will most likely retain their present positions.

Report out to turn tide on energy focus

http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=749332004


THE SCOTTISH Executive was today urged to switch its alternative energy focus from wind farms to wave power.

The Scottish Parliament’s enterprise committee claimed marine technologies had the potential to create thousands of jobs.

It said the Executive was on course to meet its target of generating 18 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

And it called on the Executive and Westminster to develop a fully-fledged Scottish energy policy to meet future energy needs.

In its Renewable Energy report today, the committee concluded the benefits of renewable energy were so great the Executive should invest significantly in the sector.

But the report said the drive for renewable energy had so far concentrated almost exclusively on promoting onshore wind power. And that was unintentionally working against the development of other energy sources.

Committee convener Alasdair Morgan MSP said: "The focus on wind power is depriving other technologies such as tidal and wave power of much-needed investment."

The committee also called for a national strategic framework for wind farm applications.

It said there was a proliferation of large onshore, wind farm proposals concentrated in sensitive geographical areas and the planning system was struggling to cope.

Further wind farms would be necessary, it warned, but there were major weaknesses in the current planning system and a lack of guidance from the Executive.

Entegris Inc. Quick Quote: ENTG 11.27 (+0.01)




Entegris' John Goodman Elected United States Fuel Cell Council Policy Committee Chair



http://www.stockhouse.com/news/news.asp?tick=ENTG&newsid=2351097

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To Demonstrate its Direct Methanol Fuel Cell / Rechargeable Battery



http://www.stockhouse.com/news/news.asp?tick=EVI.S&newsid=2351067

Canadian Renewable Fuels Association: Another First For
Biodiesel


http://www2.ccnmatthews.com/scripts/ccn-release.pl?/current/0630009n.html

RAO UES shareholders approve balance sheet for 2003

RosBusinessConsulting. Wednesday, Jun. 30, 2004, 5:55 PM Moscow Time

RAO UES shareholders have approved the balance sheet, and the income statement for 2003 at their general annual meeting, which took place in Zelenogragd today. The company's RAS net income declined 20.6 percent to RUR24.6bn (about $848m) in 2003. Core revenue slid 1.7 percent to RUR51.6bn (about $1.779bn). RAO UES sales decreased 4.6 percent to RUR30.8bn (about $1bn). 83.5 percent of RAO UES shareholders took part in the annual meeting.