The Bloom Energy Server or Bloom Box is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power generator made by Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California, that takes a variety of input fuels, including liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons[1] produced from biological sources, to produce electricity at or near the site where it will be used.[2][3] It withstands temperatures of up to 1,800 °F (980 °C).[4] According to the company, a single cell (one 100 mm × 100 mm plate consisting of three ceramic layers) generates 25 watts.[5]
The fuel cells have an operational life expectancy of around 10 years; based on predictions on fuel costs, the "break even" point for those who purchase the device is around 8 years. The cell's technology continues to rely on non-renewable sources of energy to produce electricity, and because it is not a hydrogen fuel cell, it still produces carbon dioxide (an important greenhouse gas) during operation.
In 2011, Bloom stated that two hundred servers had been deployed in California for corporations including Google, Yahoo, and Wal-Mart.[6]
- ^ "Tech Pioneers Who Will Change Your Life". Time. 2009-12-17. Archived from the original on December 21, 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
- ^ GLG Expert Contributor (22 February 2010). "Answering the Unanswered Questions". Gerson Lehrman Group. Archived from the original on 27 February 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ "Bloom Box: What is it and how does it work?". The Christian Science Monitor. 22 February 2010.
- ^ "Bloom Energy Server unveiled, Bloom Box not for the home just yet". Mobile Magazine. Mobilemag.com. 2010-02-25. Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
- ^ Goldenberg, Suzanne (22 February 2010). "Bloom Box fuel cell launch". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "Industry leading companies choose Bloom Electrons for immediate cost savings and carbon reduction benefits" (PDF) (Press release). Bloom Energy. 20 January 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.