Feb 25 2010
Bloom Energy Corporation, a company based in Silicon Valley, has launched Bloom Energy Server, which uses solid oxide fuel cell technology. This fuel cell is more reliable, cleaner as well as affordable. It is a cheaper alternative to grid electricity as well as conventional renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass. The Bloom Energy Server can be used by clients as a clean energy source for distributed power production onsite.
The fuel cell technology utilized in the Bloom Server is basically different from the well-known hydrogen fuel cells. It is produced by using materials that are affordable and abundant. It can supply renewable energy continuously without break unlike conventional renewable energy technologies. The Bloom Energy Server is fundamentally different in four ways:
- it utilizes low-cost materials
- efficient conversion of fuel into electricity
- capability to operate utilizing a broad range of traditional or renewable fuels, and
- can be easily installed and maintained
The power generated from each Bloom Energy Server is 100 kW, which is enough to power about 100 average U.S. households. If more power is required by clients, more numbers of this Energy Sever can be deployed side by side. The modular architecture of the product enables the client to increase the capacity of the system as the power requirements increase.
Some of the customers who are using the Bloom Energy Server include: The Coca-Cola Company; Bank of America; eBay; Cox Enterprises; Google; Walmart and Staples. The capital cost of the system can be recouped within three to five years from the savings in energy costs.
Source: http://bloomenergy.com/