Can This Object Save the World?

bornnraisedoffCMR
bornnraisedoffCMR Members Posts: 1,073 ✭✭
edited February 2010 in The Social Lounge
Can This Object Save the World?

By Jeremy A. Kaplan

- FOXNews.com

Bloom%20Energy%20Fuel%20Cell_doomsday_604x341.jpg



At a press conference Wednesday, Silicon Valley startup Bloom Energy showed off its new, heavily hyped technology, which harnesses chemical reactions to create energy. The company's mission: to revolutionize the world's fuel sources.

Bloom's main product is the Bloom Energy Server, a generator based around a smart new fuel cell technology. Fuel cells rely upon chemical reactions to generate energy rather than fossil fuels, and as such are considered cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable than the traditional energy sources.

Fuel cell technology has been under development for decades, primarily concentrating on chemical reactions using hydrogen -- an element that can be volatile and difficult to store. Bloom's fuel cell technology is fundamentally different, running on a wide range of renewable or traditional fuels.

The technology has roots in NASA's Mars space program, where Dr. KR Sridhar, principal co-founder and CEO of Bloom Energy, was charged with building technology to help sustain life on Mars. His mandate: Use solar energy and water to produce air to breath and fuel for transportation.

Sridhar's invention 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 ? combustion. Even running on a fossil fuel, the systems are approximately 67% cleaner than a typical coal-fired power plant, explains Bloom. When powered by a renewable fuel, the company's Energy Server 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."

Each Bloom Energy Server, with a footprint of a parking space, can provide 100 kW of power.

Bloom Energy Fuel Servers are shown installed at eBay's headquarters.

For more information about how the technology works, see this animation on the company's Web site.

Bloom Energy states that to date, Bloom Energy Servers, currently in deployment for several Fortune 500 companies, have produced more than 11 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, with CO2 reductions estimated at 14 million pounds.

The technology industry breathlessly watched and waited for Wednesday's unveiling. John Doerr, a partner at investment firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Bloom Energy board member, shared in the hype.

"For years, there have been promises of new energy solutions that are clean, distributed, affordable, and reliable; today we learn that Bloom, formerly in stealth, has actually delivered," he said. "Americans want clean, affordable, energy, 24x7 -- and all the jobs that go with it. Bloom's boxes are a breakthrough, serving energy, serving demanding customers, and serving our country."

The company's customers seem to echo Doerr's enthusiasm, many of which are leading businesses. Coca-Cola, ? , eBay, FedEx, Google, Staples, and more have been running the Energy Servers.

Coke's 500kW installation at its Odwalla plant in Dinuba, CA, 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%.

"This new fuel cell technology has great promise and represents an important step for Coca-Cola in continuing to grow our business without growing the carbon footprint," said Brian Kelley, President and General Manager, Coca-Cola North America. He noted that the Bloom Servers can help the company reduce carbon emissions while improving efficiency and using cleaner forms of energy."

In a video shown at the event, California Senator Dianne Feinstein, Cypress Semiconductor CEO T.J. Rogers, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and others raved about the new innovation.

Mayor Bloomberg said he was excited from the first time he saw the technology in action: "My first reaction was this was a company guaranteed for greatness."

"When we look at Bloom Energy," he added, "we are looking at the future of business, at the future of the economy, at the future of America."

Cool ? right there.

Comments

  • Swiffness!
    Swiffness! Members Posts: 10,128 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2010
    If this is for real, we're gonna have Marines walkin around in Master Chief/Crysis nanosuit type armor eventually. The biggest technological obstacle to powered armor is the power source.
  • getchamoneyrigh
    getchamoneyrigh Members Posts: 506
    edited February 2010
    The problem is they are expensive right now. Another issue is that most of those companies it is only running about 15% of there businesses. They also run on fuels, yes they can use biodegradable fuels but still someone has to supply that. IDK lots of questions still to be answered, but it is definatly a step in the right direction.
  • bornnraisedoffCMR
    bornnraisedoffCMR Members Posts: 1,073 ✭✭
    edited February 2010
    The problem is they are expensive right now. Another issue is that most of those companies it is only running about 15% of there businesses. They also run on fuels, yes they can use biodegradable fuels but still someone has to supply that. IDK lots of questions still to be answered, but it is definatly a step in the right direction.

    I know you dont want to hear this but once these things hit the free market the prices will drop drastically. Now if the govt' gets is stinkin hands on it and start trying to control prices and regulate the sales of it, expect us to continue to be reliant on foreign oil and Petro Monopoly.
  • BOSS KTULU
    BOSS KTULU Banned Users Posts: 978 ✭✭
    edited February 2010
    um how can saudi princes use that to get money for child prostitutes?
  • edeeesq
    edeeesq Members Posts: 511
    edited February 2010
    I know you dont want to hear this but once these things hit the free market the prices will drop drastically. Now if the govt' gets is stinkin hands on it and start trying to control prices and regulate the sales of it, expect us to continue to be reliant on foreign oil and Petro Monopoly.

    Chris Rock - "That Train's Never Late!!"
  • bornnraisedoffCMR
    bornnraisedoffCMR Members Posts: 1,073 ✭✭
    edited February 2010
    ether-i-am wrote: »
    this can save the world. It's a great energy source and motivator. But in the wrong hands it can be dangerous
    nikk.jpg

    rofl,,,,,,,
  • DarcSkies777
    DarcSkies777 Members Posts: 5,600 ✭✭✭
    edited February 2010
    LOL 2 Ether...we laugh but its true...
  • unspoken_respect
    unspoken_respect Members Posts: 9,821 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited February 2010
    All I know is....the dots are the same size.
  • bbwthick23
    bbwthick23 Members Posts: 954 ✭✭✭
    edited February 2010
    Ether you the man for that one