To compare the environmental benefits of existing power generating technologies, it is essential to understand the different meanings of the statements “Zero Emissions” and “Super Ultra Low Emissions”, and the reference used when making such a claim.

Most English dictionaries define “zero emissions”, pertaining to internal combustion engines, as “an engine that emits no harmful gases or waste into the atmosphere”.  According to this definition, the following power generating systems would all be considered “zero emissions”:

  • CHR Power Module
  • Hydrogen fuel cells
  • Wind-electric generators
  • Solar-electric generators
  • Hydro-electric generators
  • Geothermal-electric generators power

California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) definition of “Zero Emission”:

According to CARB, an engine is defined as “Zero-emission” if the engine has:

  • No tailpipe emissions
  • No evaporative emissions
  • No onboard emission-control systems that can deteriorate over time
  • No emissions from gasoline refining or sales

Therefore, according to this CARB definition, none of the following power-producing systems can be said to be truly “zero-emission”:

  • Petroleum burning generators (diesel, gasoline, propane)
  • Natural Gas burning steam turbines
  • Natural Gas burning generators
  • Coal burning steam turbines
  • Bio-fuel burning generators
  • Wood burning steam engines
  • Hydrogen burning generators
  • Hydrogen fuel cells

In all of these systems emissions are merely being relocated to another location. Even battery powered electric motors are considered to be zero emissions only if the electricity to run them was produced with no emissions. If you use zero emissions power to run your electric motor, it can truly be said to be a zero emissions motor.

Electrical power generated from the following sources can be said to be zero emissions.

  • Hydro electric
  • Wind electric
  • Solar electric
  • Solar heated Stirling cycle generators – haven’t seen a commercial one yet.

Super Ultra Low Emission:

The Super Ultra Low Emission Engine (SULEE) is a conventionally powered or gas-electric hybrid engine designed to produce minimal air pollution at their point of use, typically 90% less pollutants than that of an equivalent ordinary full gasoline engine. The primary exhaust gas pollutants are a combination of hydrocarbons (HC) (smog), nitrogen oxides (NOx) (lung irritant and smog), carbon monoxide (CO)(poisonous gas), particulate matter (PM, for diesel vehicles only)(soot), and formaldehyde (HCHO)(think cancer-causing gas).

The following are considered to be Super Ultra Low Emission Devices:

  • CHR Power Module
  • Hydrogen Fuel Cell
  • Some gas-electric hybrid engines

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