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| The '''Bloom Energy Server''' (the '''Bloom Box''') is a [[solid oxide fuel cell]] (SOFC) made by Bloom Energy, of [[Sunnyvale, California]], that can use a wide variety of inputs (including liquid or gaseous [[hydrocarbons]]<ref name="Time">{{cite news
| | Make sure you can hear your breathe (except in public places where you may want to be more discreet) and you can see the stomach moving as this will help you to build up a rhythm. Make a conscious effort to check out tire tread performance under various conditions. The downhill bikes have both front and rear suspension, disc breaks and are very strong. There are more than 15 circuits in the sport of professional mountain biking. But except few exceptions; their speed is not as fast as young runners. <br><br> |
| | url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1948486_1948485_1948479,00.html
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| | title=Tech Pioneers Who Will Change Your Life
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| | publisher=[[Time Magazine]]
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| | accessdate=24 February 2010
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| | date=2009-12-17
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| }}</ref> produced from biological sources) to generate [[electricity]] on the site where it will be used.<ref name="GL Group">{{cite web
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| | url=http://www.glgroup.com/News/The-Bloom-Energy-Bloom-Box---Answering-the-Unanswered-Questions-46756.html
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| | author="GLG Expert Contributor"
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| | title=Answering the Unanswered Questions
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| | publisher=Gerson Lehrman Group
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| | date=22 February 2010
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| }}</ref><ref name="CSM">{{cite news
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| | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/0222/Bloom-Box-What-is-it-and-how-does-it-work
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| | title=Bloom Box: What is it and how does it work?
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| | publisher=[[Christian Science Monitor]]
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| | date=22 February 2010
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| }}</ref> It can withstand temperatures of up to {{convert|1800|°F}}, that would cause many other fuel cells to break down or require maintenance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/02/25/bloom-energy-server-unveiled-bloom-box-not-for-the-home-just-yet |title=Bloom Energy Server unveiled, Bloom Box not for the home just yet - Mobile Magazine |publisher=Mobilemag.com |date=2010-02-25 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> According to the company, a single cell (one 100 mm × 100 mm metal alloy plate between two ceramic layers) generates 25 watts.<ref name="The Guardian feb22">{{cite news
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| | last=Goldenberg
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| | first=Suzanne
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| | url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/22/bloom-box-fuel-cell-launch
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| | title=Bloom Box fuel cell launch
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| | publisher=The Guardian
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| | date=22 February 2010
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| | location=London
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| }}</ref>
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| Bloom stated that two hundred servers have been deployed in California for corporations including eBay, Google, and Wal-Mart.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Industry leading companies choose Bloom Electrons for immediate cost savings and carbon reduction benefits |publisher=Bloom Energy |date=20 January 2011 |url=http://www.bd.com/press/pdfs/Bloom_Electrons_Customer_Press_Release.pdf |accessdate=30 June 2011}}</ref>
| | There are also single speed mountain bikes that only have one set gear ratio. After their devastating loss to the Dallas Mavericks, there has been a lot of question as to whether they are really capable of winning a title or not. If you liked this information and you would like to receive additional facts concerning [https://prsewing.com/Factors-Of-Mountain-Bike-Examined.htm Transfering to mountain bike sizing.] kindly see the site. An alternative to Clipless pedals are Mountain Bike shoes with Shimano Pedaling Dynamics (SPD). Then, the front Shock absorbers are used as a headset mechanism that connects the front fork to the stem or the handlebars and spokes. He is known for his expertise on the subject and on other Business and Finance related articles. <br><br>The employees at your local bike shop will be far more knowledgeable about their products than the people at those sprawling, impersonal cathedrals of capitalism. The world's best mountain bikers will return on October 11-13, 2013 to compete in the most daunting event in freeride mountain biking to prove their skill, fearlessness and ability to master the legendary terrain in Utah. There are great coaches, who will train you to tweet like a bird in spring or Link in, befriend and get a fan page. Mounting biking is a fun sport for professionals and beginners alike. -Del Plomo Hot Springs: Ideal for bikes, low traffic. <br><br>For more info about Anyclean and the range of cleaning services on offer please visit:. There are also tires with detailed treads which are very prominent and these are very useful for the biker because of the grip they provide. In the purest sense of the word, a mountain bikes sole mission is to travel "off-road" only. With a Shimano 105 groupset and FSA Gossamer chain set, it's a great choice for under. I've never been into cycling and wanted to give it a try for exercise. <br><br>If you are just out there to like your journey or to get from position to put efficiently, an ebike electric mountain bike, electric mountain bike, electric bikes for sale is the great excess boost to your experience that will permit you go farther, more time and have much more electrical power above the course of your ride, letting you to appreciate the journey a little extra. There is anything from shocks to gears, special wheels, exclusive take care of bars that can be immediately switched to match the terrain you're riding on and so substantially much more. And the cyclist may certainly sense the distinction. Many of these trails and stunts are so dangerous that signs are up because of the potential of a serious injury or even death. From there you can connect to the west switchback trail simply call "Switchbacks" or "The Old Switchbacks". |
| | |
| ==Technology==
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| The Bloom Energy Server uses thin white ceramic plates (100 × 100 mm)<ref name="Schmit">{{cite news
| |
| |first=Julie
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| |last=Schmit
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| |url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2010-02-24-fuel-cell_N.htm
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| |title=Clean, cheap power from fuel cells in a box?
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| |publisher=USA Today
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| |date=24 February 2010
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| }}</ref> that are made from "beach sand". Each plate is coated with a [[Nickel(II) oxide|green nickel oxide]]-based ink on one side, forming the anode, and another black (probably [[Lanthanum strontium manganite]]) ink on the cathode side.<ref name="60min" /><ref name="Singhalbook">{{cite book
| |
| | page=[http://www.google.co.in/books?id=LjSBsqGdxvsC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA10#v=&q=lanthanum%20manganites%20%22higher%20dopant%22%20&f=false 10]
| |
| | author=Subhash C. Singhal, Kevin Kendall
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| | title=High temperature solid oxide fuel cells: fundamentals, design, and applications
| |
| | publisher=Elsevier
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| | isbn=1-85617-387-9
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| | year=2003
| |
| }}</ref> According to the ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'', "Bloom's secret technology apparently lies in the proprietary green ink that acts as the anode and the black ink that acts as the cathode..." but in fact these materials are widely known in the field of SOFCs. ''Wired'' reported that the secret ingredient may be [[yttria-stabilized zirconia]] based upon {{ cite patent |country=US |number=|7572530 |status=patent}} that was granted to Bloom in 2009; but this material is also one of the most common [[electrolyte]] materials in the field.<ref name="zirconia">{{cite news
| |
| | last=Kanellos
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| | first=Michael
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| | url=http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/is-bloom-energy%E2%80%99s-secret-ingredient-zirconia/
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| | title=Bloom Box fuel cell launch
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| | publisher=Wired
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| | date=22 February 2010
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| | accessdate=24 February 2010
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| }}</ref> {{ cite patent |country=US |number=20080261099 |status=patent}}, assigned to Bloom Energy Corporation, says that the "electrolyte includes yttria stabilized zirconia and a [[scandia]]-stabilized [[zirconia]], such as a scandia ceria stabilized zirconia". ScSZ has a higher conductivity than [[YSZ]] at lower temperatures, which provides greater efficiency and higher reliability when used as an electrolyte. Scandia is [[scandium oxide]] ({{chem|Sc|3|O|2}}) which is a [[transition metal]] [[oxide]] that costs between US$1400 to US$2000 per kilogram in 99.9% pure form. Current annual world wide production of [[scandium]] is less than 2,000 kilograms. Most of the 5,000 kilograms used annually is sourced from [[Soviet era]] stockpiles.
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| To save money, the Bloom Energy Server uses inexpensive metal [[alloy]] plates for [[electric conductance]] between the two [[ceramic]] [[fast ion conductor]] plates. In competing lower temperature fuel cells, [[platinum]] is required at the cathode.<ref name="60min" />
| |
| | |
| == Bloom Energy ==
| |
| | |
| {{Infobox company
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| | name = Bloom Energy
| |
| | logo = [[File:bloomenergylogo.svg|200px]]
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| | caption =
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| | type = [[Privately held company|Privately held]]
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| | fate =
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| | predecessor = Ion America
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| | successor =
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| | foundation = 2002
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| | founder = [[K. R. Sridhar]] C.E.O , John Finn, Matthias Gottmann, James McElroy, Dien Nguyen
| |
| | defunct =
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| | location_city = [[Sunnyvale, California]]
| |
| | location_country = USA
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| | location =
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| | locations =
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| | area_served =
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| | key_people = [[K. R. Sridhar]] (founder, CEO)
| |
| | industry =
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| | products = regenerative [[solid oxide fuel cell]]s
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| | services =
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| | revenue =
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| | operating_income =
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| | net_income = 85 Million loss (2008)<ref name="bstfort">{{cite news
| |
| |url=http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/02/19/is-k-r-sridhars-magic-box-ready-for-prime-time/
| |
| |publisher=Fortune Magazine
| |
| |first=x
| |
| |last=1
| |
| |title=Is K.R. Sridhar’s 'magic box' ready for prime time?
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| |date=19 February 2010
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| |accessdate=26 February 2010
| |
| }}</ref>
| |
| | aum =
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| | assets =
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| | equity =
| |
| | owner = [[Kleiner Perkins]] (among others)
| |
| | num_employees =
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| | parent =
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| | divisions =
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| | subsid =
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| | homepage = http://www.bloomenergy.com/
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| | footnotes =
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| | intl =
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| }}
| |
| '''Bloom Energy''' is the company that develops, builds, and installs Bloom Energy Servers.<ref name="bstfort">{{cite web
| |
| | url= http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/02/19/is-k-r-sridhars-magic-box-ready-for-prime-time/
| |
| | first=Paul
| |
| | last=Keegan
| |
| | title=Is K.R. Sridhar’s 'magic box' ready for prime time?
| |
| | publisher=''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''
| |
| | date=February 19, 2010
| |
| | accessdate=2010-02-22}}</ref> The company, started in 2002 by CEO [[K.R. Sridhar]],<ref name="bstfort" /> is one of 26 named a 2010 Tech Pioneer by the [[World Economic Forum]].<ref name="forum">{{cite web
| |
| | title= Bloom Energy Shifts Power via Fuel Cells
| |
| | url=http://www.businessweek.com/print/globalbiz/content/dec2009/gb2009127_746740.htm
| |
| | date=December 7, 2009
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| | publisher=[[BusinessWeek]]
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| | accessdate=2010-02-22}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| === History ===
| |
| | |
| In October 2001, CEO K.R Sridhar met with [[John Doerr]] from the [[venture capital]] firm [[Kleiner Perkins]].<ref name="CBS">{{cite news
| |
| | url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/18/60minutes/main6221135.shtml
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| | title=The Bloom Box: An Energy Breakthrough?
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| | publisher=[[CBS News]]
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| | date=February 18, 2010
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| | accessdate=2010-02-24}}</ref> Sridhar asked for more than $100 million to start the company. Bloom Energy eventually received $400 million of start-up funding from [[venture capitalist]]s, including [[Kleiner Perkins]]<ref name="60min"/> and [[Vinod Khosla]].<ref name="bullish">{{cite web
| |
| | url= http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/190058/why_im_bullish_on_bloom_energy.html
| |
| | last= Coursey
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| | first= David
| |
| | title=Why I'm Bullish on Bloom Energy
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| | publisher=PC World
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| | date=February 23, 2010
| |
| | accessdate=2010-02-24}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| The company, originally called Ion America, was renamed Bloom Energy in 2006.<ref name="mercnews" >{{cite web
| |
| | url= http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14461347?nclick_check=1
| |
| | title=Bloom Energy unveils its 'Bloom Box' fuel cell
| |
| | publisher=[[San Jose Mercury News]]
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| | date=February 24, 2010
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| | accessdate=2010-02-24}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| Sridhar credited his nine-year-old son for the name, saying that his son believed jobs, lives, environment, and children would bloom.<ref name="CSM Update">{{cite news
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| |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/0222/Bloom-Box-What-60-Minutes-left-out
| |
| |publisher=Christian Science Monitor
| |
| |first=Chris
| |
| |last=Gaylord
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| |title=Bloom Box: What 60 Minutes left out
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| |date=22 February 2010
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| |accessdate=26 February 2010
| |
| }}</ref> [[Michael R. Bloomberg]] appeared at the launch by video link.<ref name="engadget" /> Bloomberg's business news network covered the event, but attributed every statement to "Bloom Energy".<ref>{{cite news
| |
| |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=abLY_cuMnixE
| |
| |title=Bloom Energy Says Generator Can Produce 100 Kilowatts (Update1)
| |
| |first=Mark
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| |last=Chediak
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| |publisher=Bloomberg
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| |date=24 February 2010
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| }}</ref>
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| | |
| The CEO gave a media interview (to ''[[Fortune Magazine]]'') for the first time in 2010, eight years after founding the company, because of pressure from his customers.<ref name="bstfort" /> A few days later he allowed [[Lesley Stahl]] of the [[CBS News]] program ''[[60 Minutes]]'' to see the factory.<ref name="gtm">{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Bloom-Energy-Revealed/
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| |title=Bloom Energy Revealed on 60 Minutes! : Greentech Media
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| |publisher=Greentechmedia.com
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| |date=19 February 2010
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| |accessdate=2010-02-24
| |
| }}</ref> On February 24, 2010, the company held its first press conference.<ref name="mercnews" />
| |
| | |
| Bloom Energy's well-known customers include [[Walmart]], [[Staples Inc.|Staples]], [[AT&T]], [[Adobe Systems|Adobe]], [[CocaCola]], [[Ebay]], [[Google]], [[Bank of America]], [[FedEx]], [[Life Technologies]],<ref>{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.lifetechnologies.com/global/en/home/communities-social/blog/blogs/clean-energy-fuel-cells.html/
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| |title=Life Technologies Moving 'Off the Grid' with Clean Energy Fuel Cells
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| |date=19 July 2012
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| |accessdate=2013-02-24
| |
| }}</ref> and [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]].
| |
| | |
| == Costs ==
| |
| | |
| ===Installation===
| |
| | |
| The current cost of each hand-made 100 kW Bloom Energy Server is $7–800,000. The company announced plans for a smaller, home sized Bloom server priced under $3,000.<ref name="60min" /> Bloom estimated the size of a home-sized server at 1 kilowatt, although others recommended 5 kW.<ref name="cnet" >{{cite web | |
| | url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10458980-64.html
| |
| | title= Bloom Box challenges: Reliability, cost
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| | publisher= [[cNet News]]
| |
| | date= February 24, 2010
| |
| | accessdate= 2010-02-24}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| The capital cost is $7–8 per watt.<ref>{{cite web|author=Fareed Zakaria |url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/236860 |title=K.R. Sridhar: Bloom Energy's Fuel-Cell Guru - Newsweek and The Daily Beast |publisher=Newsweek.com |date=2010-04-22 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> | |
| | |
| According to the New York Times (Green Blog), in early 2011 "... Bloom Energy ... unveiled a service to allow customers to buy the electricity generated by its fuel cells without incurring the capital costs of purchasing the six-figure devices.... Under the Bloom Electrons service, customers sign 10-year contracts to purchase the electricity generated by Bloom Energy Servers while the company retains ownership of the fuel cells and responsibility for their maintenance.... 'We’re able to tell customers, ‘You don’t have to put any money up front, you pay only for the electrons you use and it’s good for your pocketbook and good for planet,’ ' [CEO K.R. Sridhar] said."<ref name="nytonline" >{{cite news
| |
| | url=http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/an-affordable-way-to-buy-fuel-cell-power/
| |
| | title=An Affordable Way to Buy Fuel-Cell Power
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| | publisher=New York Times
| |
| | date=January 20, 2011
| |
| | accessdate=2011-02-21
| |
| | first=Todd
| |
| | last=Woody}}</ref>
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| | |
| ===Usage===
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| On 24 February 2010, Sridhar claimed that his devices were making electricity for 8–10 cents/kWh using [[natural gas]], cheaper than today's electricity prices in some parts of the United States, such as [[California]].<ref>{{cite news
| |
| |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/a-maker-of-fuel-cells-blooms-in-california/
| |
| |title=A maker of fuel cells blooms in California
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| |publisher=New York Times blogs
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| |first=Todd
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| |last=Woody
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| | date=2010-02-24
| |
| | accessdate=2010-04-26
| |
| }}</ref><ref name="Timesenergy" >{{cite news
| |
| | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/business/energy-environment/24bloom.html
| |
| | publisher=New York Times |title=Bloom Energy Claims a New Fuel Cell Technology
| |
| | first=Todd
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| | last=Woody
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| | date=24 February 2010
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| }}</ref> Twenty percent of the cost savings depend upon avoiding transfer losses that result from energy grid use.<ref name="cnet" />
| |
| | |
| Bloom Energy claimed to be developing [[Power Purchase Agreements]] to sell electricity produced by the boxes, rather than selling the boxes themselves, in order to address customers' fears about box maintenance, reliability, and servicing costs.<ref name="gtm">{{cite web
| |
| | url= http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Bloom-Energy-Revealed/
| |
| | title= Bloom Energy Revealed on 60 Minutes!
| |
| | publisher= [[Greentech Media]]
| |
| | date= February 19, 2010
| |
| | accessdate= 2010-02-22}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| As of 2010, fifteen percent of the power at eBay was created with Bloom technology; after tax incentives that covered half the capital costs. eBay expects "a three-year payback period" for the remaining half, based on California's $0.14/kWh cost of commercial electricity.<ref name="eBay">{{cite news
| |
| | url= http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/a-maker-of-fuel-cells-blooms-in-california/
| |
| | title= A Maker of Fuel Cells Blooms in California
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| | publisher= The New York Times
| |
| | date= February 24, 2010
| |
| | accessdate= 2010-02-24}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| == Installations ==
| |
| | |
| The company says that its first 100 [[kilowatt|kW]] Bloom Energy Servers were shipped to [[Google]] in July 2008.<ref>{{cite web
| |
| | url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/about/company-history/
| |
| | title=NASA Technology Comes to Earth
| |
| | accessdate=24 February 2010
| |
| }} (primary source)</ref> Four such servers were installed at Google's headquarters, which became Bloom Energy's first customer.<ref name="gtm" /> Another installation of five boxes<ref name="Time" /> produces up to 500 kW at [[eBay]] headquarters California.<ref name="gtm" /> Bloom Energy stated that their customers include [[Staples (company)|Staples]] (300 kW - December 2008),<ref>{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/customers/customer-story-staples/
| |
| |title=Be The Solution | Customer Story: Staples
| |
| |publisher=Bloom Energy |date=
| |
| |accessdate=2010-02-24
| |
| }} (primary source)</ref> [[Walmart]] (800 kW - January 2010),<ref>{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/customers/customer-story-walmart/
| |
| |title=Be The Solution | Customer Story: Walmart
| |
| |publisher=Bloom Energy
| |
| |date=
| |
| |accessdate=2010-02-24
| |
| }} (primary source)</ref> [[FedEx]] (500 kW),<ref>{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/customers/customer-story-fedex/
| |
| |title=Be The Solution | Customer Story: FedEx
| |
| |publisher=Bloom Energy
| |
| |date=
| |
| |accessdate=2010-02-24
| |
| }} (primary source)</ref> [[The Coca-Cola Company]] (500 kW)<ref>{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/customers/customer-story-coke/
| |
| |title=Be The Solution | Customer Story: Coca-Cola
| |
| |publisher=Bloom Energy
| |
| |date=
| |
| |accessdate=2010-02-24
| |
| }} (primary source)</ref> and [[Bank of America]] (500 kW).<ref>{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/customers/customer-story-bank-of-america/
| |
| |title=Be The Solution | Customer Story: Bank of America
| |
| |publisher=Bloom Energy
| |
| |date=
| |
| |accessdate=2010-02-24
| |
| }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| |
| |url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/about/press-kit/
| |
| |title=Press kit
| |
| |publisher=Bloom Energy
| |
| |accessdate=24 February 2010
| |
| }} (primary source)</ref> Each of these installations were located in California.
| |
| | |
| == Portable units ==
| |
| Sridhar announced plans to install Bloom Energy Servers in third world nations.<ref name="engadget">{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/live-from-the-bloom-box-press-event/ |title=Live from the Bloom Box press event |publisher=Engadget |date= |accessdate=2010-02-24}}</ref> Ex-[[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]], [[Colin Powell]], now a Bloom
| |
| Energy board member, said the Bloom Energy generators could be useful to the military because they are lighter, more efficient, and generate less heat than traditional generators.<ref>{{cite web|author= Caption by: Josh Lowensohn, Michelle Meyers |url=http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10002583-11.html?tag=mncol |title=Bloom board member Colin Powell - Meet the Bloom box (images) - CNET News |publisher=News.cnet.com |date=2010-02-24 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| == Feasibility ==
| |
| {{quote box
| |
| |float=right
| |
| |quote= <math>CH_4 + 2O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O + electricity + heat</math>
| |
| |source= The chemical reaction used to create energy in Bloom Energy products
| |
| }}
| |
| Bloom Energy Server technology is based upon stacking small fuel cells which operate in concert.<ref name="Schmit" /><ref name="mercnews" /> Bloom Energy's approach of stacking fuel cells that enable individual plates expand and contract at the same rate at high temperatures.<ref name="Schmit" /> However, other [[solid oxide fuel cell]] producers have solved the problem of different expansion rates of cells in the past.<ref name="Singhalbook" /> Scott Samuelsen of the [[University of California, Irvine]] National Fuel Cell Research Center questioned the operational life of Bloom Servers. "At this point, Bloom has excellent potential, but they have yet to demonstrate that they've met the bars of reliability."<ref name="mercnews" /> [[Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory]] expert Michael Tucker claimed, "Because they operate at high temperatures, they can accept other fuels like natural gas and methane, and that's an enormous advantage... The disadvantage is that they can shatter as they are heating or cooling."<ref name="mercnews" />
| |
| | |
| Venture capitalist John Doerr asserted that the Bloom Energy Server is cheaper and cleaner than the grid.<ref name="Time" /><ref>{{cite news|author=E-mail This |url=http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/bloom-energy-claims-a-new-fuel-cell-technology/ |title=Bloom Energy Claims a New Fuel Cell Technology - DealBook Blog - NYTimes.com |publisher=Dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com |date= 2010-02-24|accessdate=2010-02-24}}</ref> An expert at [[Gerson Lehrman Group]] wrote that, given today's electricity transmission losses of about 7% and utility-size gas-fired power stations efficiency of 33-48%, the Bloom Energy Server is up to twice as efficient as a gas-fired power station.<ref name="GL Group" /> ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' stated that "Bloom has still not released numbers about how much the Bloom Box costs to operate per kilowatt hour" and estimates that natural gas rather than bio-gas will be its primary fuel source.<ref name="Fortune followup">{{cite web
| |
| | url=http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2010/02/23/bloom-box-segway-or-savior/?section=magazines_fortune
| |
| | title=Bloom Box: Segway or savior?
| |
| | publisher=Fortune
| |
| | accessdate= 24 February 2010}}</ref> AP reporter Jonathan Fahey in ''[[Forbes]]'' wrote: "Are we really falling for this again? Every clean tech company on the planet says it can produce clean energy cheaply, yet not a single one can. Government subsidies or mandates keep the entire worldwide industry afloat. Hand it to Bloom, the company has managed to tap into the hype machine like no other clean tech company in memory." <ref name="Forbes">{{cite news
| |
| | url=http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/24/fuel-cell-utc-technology-ecotech-bloom-energy.html?boxes=techchannelsections
| |
| | title=What Bloom Energy Needs To Prove
| |
| | publisher=[[Forbes]]
| |
| | accessdate= 24 February 2010
| |
| | first=Jonathan
| |
| | last=Fahey
| |
| | date=2010-02-24}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| === Efficiency ===
| |
| | |
| Bloom claims a conversion efficiency of around 50%.<ref>{{cite web|author=by Martin LaMonica |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10461359-54.html |title=Parsing fact from fiction with the Bloom Energy box | Green Tech - CNET News |publisher=News.cnet.com |date=2010-03-01 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> A modern [[combined cycle]] gas turbine power plant (CCGT) can reach 60% overall efficiency, using a multi-step process. Sridhar stated that Bloom's products convert chemical energy to electrical energy in one step, are more fuel efficient than current gas-fired power stations and reduce transmission/distribution losses by producing power where it is used.<ref>{{cite web|author=— 07 October 2009 |url=http://www.freshdialogues.com/2009/10/07/kr-sridhar-transcript-of-fresh-dialogues-interview-part-one/ |title=KR Sridhar: Transcript of Fresh Dialogues Interview Part One |publisher=Fresh Dialogues |date=2009-10-07 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| Each Bloom Energy Server provides 100 kW of power, enough to meet the baseload needs of 100 average homes or a small office building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bloomenergy.com/products/what-is-an-energy-server/ |title=Energy Server - What is it? |publisher=Bloom Energy |date=2011-10-13 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> The average monthly electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 958 kWh per month during 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=97&t=3 |title=How much electricity does an American home use? - FAQ - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |publisher=Eia.gov |date=2013-03-19 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| Sridhar said the boxes have a 10 year life span,<ref name="Timesenergy" /> although that could include replacing the cells during that period. The CEO of eBay says Bloom Energy Servers have saved the company $100,000 in electricity bills since they were installed in mid-2009,<ref name="60min">{{cite news
| |
| | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/18/60minutes/main6221135.shtml
| |
| | title=The Bloom Box: An Energy Breakthrough?
| |
| | publisher=[[60 Minutes]]
| |
| | date=February 21, 2010
| |
| | accessdate=2010-02-22}}</ref> Contributor at Fortune Magazine Paul Keegan calls that figure "meaningless without the details to see how he got there".<ref name="Fortune followup" />
| |
| | |
| === Long-term business case ===
| |
| | |
| Assuming a 50% future cost reduction, one could argue that the best case scenario for the 200 kW unit would be a capital (installed) cost comparable to today's 100 kW units, i.e., around $800,000. Using average electricity ($0.10/kWh) and natural gas ($3/MMBtu) prices and assuming a 6% per year maintenance/operating cost apart from fuel, the break-even period for the device comes to over 8 years, based on published performance numbers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomenergy.com/fuel-cell/es-5700-data-sheet |title=Clean, Renewable Energy | Bloom Energy Solid Oxide Fuel Cells |publisher=Bloomenergy.com |date=2011-10-13 |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| {| class="wikitable"
| |
| |-
| |
| ! Parameter Name !! Value !! Unit / description
| |
| |-
| |
| | Fuel (natural gas) flow rate for 200 kW Bloom Energy Server || 1.32 || MMBtu/hr
| |
| |-
| |
| |Fuel energy in rate in kW (1 MMBTU/hr CH<sub>4</sub> = 293 kW) || 386.76 || kW
| |
| |-
| |
| |Fuel cost || $3.96 || per hour
| |
| |-
| |
| |Electric output rate || 200 || kW
| |
| |-
| |
| |System efficiency natural gas -> electricity ||52% ||percent conversion of natural gas energy to electrical energy
| |
| |-
| |
| |Electricity cost || $0.10 ||per kWh
| |
| |-
| |
| |Electricity produced revenue|| $20.00 ||per hour
| |
| |-
| |
| |CO<sub>2</sub> produced|| 773 ||lb/MWh
| |
| |-
| |
| |Run cost savings per bloom box (electricity revenue less fuel cost) || $16.04 || per hour
| |
| |-
| |
| |Cost savings per year assuming 24X7 full load operation|| $140,510.40 ||per year
| |
| |-
| |
| |Capital cost (estimated minimum cost after projected reductions)|| $800,000.00 || for each 200 kW unit
| |
| |-
| |
| |Annual maintenance / operation cost|| 6% ||as a fraction of capital cost, per year
| |
| |-
| |
| |Cost savings after maintenance costs || $92,510.40 || per year
| |
| |-
| |
| |Break even period ||8.6|| years
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| These numbers mean that the total lifetime of these systems would need to exceed 15 – 20 years to make an argument for a viable long-term business case without subsidies. The analysis might be somewhat different if the systems are used mainly for peak (power) shaving when electricity costs can exceed $0.15/kWh. However, the intermittent nature of such peak periods would likely reduce the overall impact on the estimated break-even period using average cost figures for electricity and natural gas. A reliable bio-derived source of fuel (bio-gas) would also tip the argument in a favorable direction, however such sources are not typically located near customer sites.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}
| |
| | |
| == Competition ==
| |
| A [[Gerson Lehrman Group]] analyst wrote that [[GE]] dismantled its fuel cell group five years ago and [[Siemens]] almost dismantled theirs.<ref name="GL Group" /> [[United Technologies]] is the only large [[conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]] that has competitive fuel cell technology.<ref name="GL Group" /> [[Toshiba]] has technology to provide energy for a small device, not a neighborhood.<ref name="GL Group" />
| |
| | |
| [[Sprint]] owns 15 patents on hydrogen fuel cells and is using 250 fuel cells to provide backup power for its operations. Sprint has been using fuel cell power since 2005. In 2009, Sprint's fuel cell program received a grant of $7.3 million from the [[United States Department of Energy]] to expand the hydrogen capacity of its fuel cell tanks from providing up to 15 hours of backup power, to 72 hours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20091202212204/http://newsreleases.sprint.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=127149&p=irol-newsArticle_newsroom&ID=1277707 |title=Sprint Receives $7.3 Million U.S. Department of Energy Grant to Expand Hydrogen Fuel Cell Deployment| date=Apr 17, 2009}}</ref> Sprint partnered with ReliOn and [[Altergy]] for fuel cell manufacture, and with [[Air Products]] as a hydrogen supplier. German fuel cell firm P21 has been working on similar projects to supply backup power for cellular operations.<ref name="Sprint">{{cite news
| |
| | url= http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2010/tc20100223_146116.htm
| |
| | last= Fehrenbacher
| |
| | first= Katie
| |
| | title=Phone Companies Are Developing Fuel Cells, Too
| |
| | publisher=[[Business Week]]
| |
| | date=February 23, 2010
| |
| | accessdate=2010-02-24}}</ref> [[United Technologies]] makes fuel cells costing $4,500 per kilowatt.
| |
| | |
| In October 2009, the Department of Energy awarded nearly USD $25 million in grants for research and development of solar fuels.<ref name="zirconia" /><ref name="Greentechmedia" >{{cite news
| |
| | url= http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/a-new-form-of-solar-energy-direct-solar-fuels/
| |
| | title=New Form of Solar Energy: Direct Solar Fuel
| |
| | publisher=[[Business Week]]
| |
| | date=October 28, 2009
| |
| | accessdate=2010-02-24}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| In October 2012, the US government awarded Bloom Energy $70,710,959 under its section 1603 energy awards program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.treasury.gov/initiatives/recovery/Pages/1603.aspx |title=Recovery Act |deadurl=no |accessdate=2013-01-31}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| A competitor claimed the Bloom Box uses a "thick electrolyte" that requires 900 °C temperatures to overcome electrical resistance. [[Topsoe Fuel Cell]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topsoefuelcell.com/ |title=Topsoe Fuel Cell |publisher=Topsoefuelcell.com |date= |accessdate=2013-07-28}}</ref> and [[Ceres Power]] instead employ "thick anode" technology that allows operation at cooler temperature. Ceres has a four-year program to install 37,500 units in the homes of customers of the UK's [[Centrica|British Gas]].<ref name="NewScientist">{{cite news
| |
| | url= http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18584-innovation-bloom-didnt-start-a-fuelcell-revolution.html
| |
| | title=Innovation: Bloom didn't start a fuel-cell revolution
| |
| | date=February 26, 2010}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| [[Ballard Power]]'s comparably scaled products are based on [[proton exchange membrane fuel cell]]s. Ballard's 150 kW units are intended for mobile applications such as municipal buses,<ref>{{cite web
| |
| | url=http://www.ballard.com/files/pdf/Spec_Sheets/PEM_FC_Product_Portfolio_docmetrics.pdf
| |
| | title=PEM FC Product Portfolio
| |
| | publisher=Ballard Power
| |
| | accessdate=2010-03-04
| |
| }}</ref> while their larger 1 MW stationary systems are configured from banks of 11 kW building blocks.<ref>{{cite web
| |
| | url=http://www.ballard.com/Stationary_Power/Distributed_Power_Generation/Application_Overview.htm
| |
| | title=Application Overview
| |
| | publisher=Ballard Power
| |
| | accessdate=2010-03-04
| |
| }}</ref>
| |
| | |
| Another competitor in Europe and Australia is [[Ceramic Fuel Cells]]. It claims an efficiency of 60% for the power-only units; these fuel cells are based on technology spun off from Australia's [[CSIRO]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfcl.com.au | title=CFCL | publisher=Ceramic Fuel Cells | accessdate=2010-05-17 }}</ref>
| |
| | |
| == See also ==
| |
| * [[Home fuel cell]]
| |
| | |
| == References ==
| |
| {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
| |
| | |
| ==External links==
| |
| * [http://www.bloomenergy.com/products/ Bloom Energy Server]
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| | |
| [[Category:Fuel cells]]
| |