10 questions about the Bloom Energy Server

10 questions about the Bloom Energy Server

www.msnbc.msn.com

But is the Bloom box too good to be true? We may not know for years, of course, although early reports from an impressive lineup of beta testers, including Bank of America, Coca-Cola, eBay, FedEx, Google and Wal-Mart, are showing sizable reductions in both energy costs and CO2 emissions. A power generator that saves money and the environment? This must be Tomorrowland!

(visit the link for the full news article)

This energy seems like a great alternative, for the most part.

I read this story, and I'm pretty sure I detected the deliberate injection of doubt.

Is it just me being paranoid and despising MSM more and more? Or did they inject WAY more doubt, than the possibility for a cleaner tomorrow? haha

They ask:


"A lot of celebrities are endorsing Bloom. Isn’t that a bad sign?"


Saying Colin Powell ( who is actually involved in the company) and Arnold (yes THE Arnold) are "celebrity endorsers". Hmm. They are both politicians. But then go on to call out Charlie Sheen's enforcement from the rehab center...in comparison.

Thanks for the injection of doubt...actually through out the story..

What do YOU think?

www.msnbc.msn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 26-2-2010 by Demoncreeper]

I think they were forced to cover the story. When asked on 60 min about their product they said talk to our customers (like they knew their own word was no good to the reporter). So the customer said they were happy with the product and the show had nowhere to go. They couldn't attack the compant or the product. Poor media.

It appears that the unsubsidized price of the Bloom Box is about $7-8,000/kW, so their 100 kW units cost $700,000-800,000 without subsidy. As a fuel cell, it also needs fuel to run, in this case natural gas or another source of methane (such as landfill gas or biogas from anaerobic digesters).

The unsubsidized cost would be 13-14 cents/kWh, with about 9 cents/kWh from the capital costs of the Bloom box and 5 cents/kWh from natural gas costs, according to Luz Research. If natural gas prices rise or fall 50% (gas prices are often volatile), overall price would fluctuate from 11.5-12.5 cents/kWh to 20.5-21.5 cents/kWh. That unsubsidized price is still too high to compete in most markets with retail electricity without subsidy. However, this is the first generation, and if Bloom can bring prices down (and/or natural gas prices are stable/low), there could be a significant market for this fuel cell.

As far as climate benefits, supposedly it generates electricity at 50-55% conversion efficiency. CO2 emissions when running on natural gas would be just under 0.8 pounds/kWh, which compares favorably to electricity from central station coal-fired plants (2 lbs/kWh) or natural gas plants (roughly 1.3 lbs/kWh) and the national average for on-grid electricity (around 1.3-1.5 lbs/kWh). Clearly, though, the Bloom Box is still not a zero emissions tech and would only cut emissions by roughly 50% relative to the national average, unless it runs on landfill gas or biogas or hydrogen from electrolysis fueled by zero-carbon electricity (which would be much more expensive as you have to add cost of electrolysis unit, higher cost electricity, and about 30% conversion losses in electrolysis).


blogs.forbes.com...

(note: average grid electricity is 11 cents per kilowatt hour for residential customers).

That works out to a capital cost of $7000-$8000 per kilowatt, and has an efficiency of 50% to 55%. Meanwhile the Siemens Gas Turbine SCC5-8000H Combined Cycle has an efficiency of over 60%, and costs $800 per kilowatt. Meaning the gas turbine will use about 15% less fuel, release less CO2 into the atmosphere, and also cost 10 times less. Bloom has a massive way to go before this is affordable, because at the moment, it isn't. (And gas turbines will be progressing during this time also).

SGT5-8000H:

I also hear that it may require zirconium oxide as a membrane (can anyone confirm that?) and zirconium doesn't grow on trees, nor is it processed quickly, which may hamper production volumes.

So is the Bloom Box the solution to all the world's energy problems? Of course not. But could it finally move fuel cells for stationary power generation a big step forward? It looks like the chances are good. Only time, and the tests of the market, will tell...

It's worth noting though that with the idea initially funded through NASA's Mars program and the initial product launch only enabled by public deployment incentives, the Bloom Energy fuel cell is another good example of how public investments in technology R&D and deployment can catalyze significant private sector investment, innovation and entrepreneurship to drive forward a new technology with potential for widespread application as costs come down.

blogs.forbes.com...

[edit on 26/2/2010 by C0bzz]

reply to post by C0bzz


Cool stuff there for sure.
I think the "unbiased" msm could have done a little better of a job with their report, and that was my main beef.

Also, if they can ever figure HHO to burn more usefully and apply it here, this could actually be used to a much fuller potential.

Thanks for the info!