| Posted on June 7, 2011 at 3:11 PM | 
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Bloom Energy is a company I have been following for quite a while now...
They produce a pretty remarkable technology called an Energy Server, which is a fuel-cell based electricity generator that can use virtually any fuel source to generate electricity for a home or business. It decentralises the generation process, moving the demand away from the big dirty power stations. Beyond the obvious capital and fuel costs, the energy is free. The most common fuel source used is natural gas.
The cells convert hydrogen and oxygen in to electricity via solid oxide cells and an electrochemical process. The secret sauce is in the cheap materials used and the conducting paint on the cells. Bloom believes that the Servers will have a big impact by providing power in off-grid areas as well as eliminating demand from the big power plants. The servers cost $700,000 each but many big companies such as Google, eBay, Walmart and Coca-Cola have already bought one.
Many believe this technology could take off if the capital cost comes down sufficiently and the decentralised approach will help minimise the sizeable impact of transmission losses. Bloom Energy is even working on a domestic scale system. I would love my own power plant in my home!
They produce a pretty remarkable technology called an Energy Server, which is a fuel-cell based electricity generator that can use virtually any fuel source to generate electricity for a home or business. It decentralises the generation process, moving the demand away from the big dirty power stations. Beyond the obvious capital and fuel costs, the energy is free. The most common fuel source used is natural gas.
The cells convert hydrogen and oxygen in to electricity via solid oxide cells and an electrochemical process. The secret sauce is in the cheap materials used and the conducting paint on the cells. Bloom believes that the Servers will have a big impact by providing power in off-grid areas as well as eliminating demand from the big power plants. The servers cost $700,000 each but many big companies such as Google, eBay, Walmart and Coca-Cola have already bought one.
Many believe this technology could take off if the capital cost comes down sufficiently and the decentralised approach will help minimise the sizeable impact of transmission losses. Bloom Energy is even working on a domestic scale system. I would love my own power plant in my home!
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