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 The Bloom Energy Corporation, a Silicon Valley-based company, is committed to changing the way people generate and consume energy. The Bloom Energy Server™, a patented solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology, provides distributed power generation, enabling customers to create their own electricity on site. The Company claims that it is a cleaner, more reliable and more affordable alternative to today‟s electric grid as well as traditional renewable energy sources.
The company introduced its groundbreaking technology at an event hosted at eBay Inc. Headquarters, along with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, General Colin Powell, and several of their early customers. The materials used in the manufacture of the SOFC are affordable and in abundant supply. Bloom‟s fuel cell technology is distinct in four primary ways: it uses low cost materials, provides unmatched efficiency in converting fuel to electricity, has the ability to run on a wide range of renewable or traditional fuels, is easily deployed and maintained and can provide power „24/7‟. Each Bloom Energy Server provides 100 kilowatts (kW) of power and takes up roughly the area of a parking space. This is enough power to meet the needs of approximately 100 average U.S. homes or a small office building. For more power, customers simply deploy multiple Energy Servers side by side. The modular architecture allows customers to start small and “pay as they grow”.
3 TO 5 YEAR PAYBACK AND CUTS C02 EMISSIONS
Bloom‟s customers have deployed this technology in order to lower or fix their energy costs, while significantly cutting their carbon footprint and enhancing their energy security by reducing their dependence on the grid. Customers who purchase Bloom‟s systems can expect a 3-5 year payback on their capital investment from the energy cost savings. Depending on whether they are using a fossil or renewable fuel, they can also achieve a 40-100% reduction in their carbon footprint as compared with the U.S. grid.
“Bloom Energy is dedicated to making clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world,” said Dr. KR Sridhar, principal co-founder and CEO of Bloom Energy. “We believe that we can have the same kind of impact on energy that the mobile phone had on communications. Just as cell phones circumvented landlines to proliferate telephony, Bloom Energy will enable the adoption of distributed power as a smarter, localized energy source.”
Dr Sridhar continued, “Our customers are the cornerstone of that vision and we are thrilled to be working with industry leading companies to lower their energy costs, reduce their carbon footprint, improve their energy security, and showcase their commitment to a better future. Whether a customer wants to reduce its carbon footprint or its energy bills, or both, the Bloom Energy Server provides the solution,”
Since the first commercial customer installation in July 2008, Bloom‟s Energy Servers have collectively produced more than 11 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, with CO2 reductions estimated at 14 million pounds – the equivalent of powering approximately 1,000 American homes for a year and planting one million trees.
POWDER TO POWER - HOW IT WORKS
Founded in 2001, Bloom Energy can trace its roots to the NASA Mars space program. Sridhar and his team were charged with building technology to help sustain life on Mars using solar energy and water to produce air to breathe and fuel for transportation. They soon realized that their technology could have an even greater impact here on Earth and began work on what would become the Bloom Energy Server. The Bloom Energy Server converts air and nearly any fuel source – ranging from natural gas to a wide range of biogases – into electricity via a clean electrochemical process, rather than dirty combustion. Even running on a fossil fuel, the systems are approximately 67% cleaner than a typical coal-fired power plant. When powered by a renewable fuel, they can be 100% cleaner. Each Energy Server consists of thousands of Bloom's fuel cells – flat, solid ceramic squares made from a common sand-like "powder."
FOUNDATION CUSTOMERS
Bank of America‟s 500kW installation will help to eliminate their need for diesel generators, it will dramatically reduce the company‟s carbon footprint and provide energy cost stability. It will power one of its largest 24/7 call centers located in Southern California. As part of its Energy & Climate Protection strategy, Coca Cola is committed to improving the energy efficiency of its plants and fleet while reducing greenhouse gas emissions in cold drink equipment. Coke‟s 500kW fuel cell installation at its Odwalla plant in California will run on re-directed biogas and is expected to provide 30% of the plant‟s power needs while reducing its carbon footprint by an estimated 35%. Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company, which aims to conserve resources, embrace renewable forms of energy and reduce the company‟s greenhouse gas emissions. Cox sited its first 400kW biogas powered Bloom Energy Server at its KTVU television station in Oakland, California. eBay Inc has set an ambitious carbon reduction goal of 15% by 2012 over a 2008 baseline as part of an overall strategy to run their business in ways that have less impact on the planet. The company has installed two solar arrays and has collaborated with Bloom to pioneer a first-of-its-kind installation that, as of spring 2010, will be powered by 100% renewable biogas.
FedEx Corporation seeks to diversify its energy supply whenever possible, relying on energy sources such as wind and solar power. An early adopter of solar technology, the company is evaluating five 100kW Bloom Energy Servers to complement solar power at its hub in Oakland, California. Google was Bloom Energy‟s first customer in July 2008 and was attracted to the solution because of its fuel flexibility, easy deployment and payback period. Google‟s 400kW installation powers a facility that includes an experimental data center. "As we work hard to reduce Google's environmental footprint and improve our sustainability, we're pleased to be able to use on-site clean power generated by Bloom Energy," said Rick Needham of Google‟s Green Business Operations.
Staples Inc has pledged to reduce its absolute carbon emissions by 7% by 2010 and has evaluated many alternative energy sources. Staples‟ first 300kW installation is located at their Ontario, California distribution center and the company believes Bloom Energy Servers can provide significant power for their large facilities and distribution centers in the future. Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs, said “Through our relationship with energy leaders like Bloom, Staples is not only able to reduce our operating costs but we are reducing our environmental footprint in the local communities in which we operate.” Walmart have set a vision of supplying their operations with 100% renewable energy and have completed the deployment of 400kW Energy Servers in two southern California retail locations. “We hope to use our scale to help bring these technologies to market in a fast and cost effective way,” said Bill Simon, Chief Operating Officer of Walmart. |
