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The Bloom Box - "Energy server"

Sulfur Oxide fuel Cells (SOFC)

Could Energy Internet be in the very near future? At the size of a refrigerator a Bloom Box generates 200 kW of clean, efficient and affordable electricity, day and night. Its to early to say but this may revolutionize power generation,just like how Computing machine - Desktop computers - Laptops has evolved. At least that is how its manufacturer, Bloomenergy, claims. But the plus side on this technology evolution, is its contribution to reducing Carbon emissions.

A Bloom Box converts existing fuel sources like natural gas or biogas into electricity through an electro-chemical process. Each fuel cell consists of thousands of solid oxide fuel cells. Each cell is a flat solid ceramic square made from a common sand-like “powder”. A single fuel cell can produce 25W, which can already power a light bulb. The refrigerator-sized energy servers consists of several stack of these fuel cells capable of generating 200kW power. The Energy Servers can also be interconnected to produce more power if necessary.

The concept is to create decentralized networks of Energy Servers, each powering small groups of buildings or homes.

Click here to see How it works

The 200kW Energy servers are currently at $700,000 to $800,000 and are being used by key companies - Google, ebay, Walmart and more. However, in its recent press release, they have showcased hand held boxes and mentioned that they would market it in the future. It would cost around $3000 and will be powerful enough to power a single home.
There has been several speculations as to whether the Bloom Box could be the power technology of the future. Most of the critics are on its expensive price. But I think, it is too still too early to say that. The technology can still be considered new and under development. I for one have not had any knowledge about this technology prior to its recent press release. Sooner of later, either Bloomenergy will release a more affordable version or other companies could come up with their own cheap version. Which way it may go, it sill be a win-win scenario for mother  nature.

source: Bloomenergy

More photos:

Stacks of SOFC

Multiple Energy Servers

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