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There is increasing popularity amidst the term Bloom Energy. There are unanswered questions about the technology. What is it really and how does it work?

The ‘bloom Box’ has been launched by a Sunnyvale, Calif-based company. There is increasing effervescence about the technology, yet many are questioning what it really is. The aim of the technology, according to CEO K.R. Sridhar, is to deliver electricity off the electricity grid. This will be done at a very low cost and highly friendly to the environment.

In simple term, the Bloom box is a fuel cell. Fuel cells have been around since very long even in the 19th century, they existed. However, the secret of this particular technology is that it can be made from beach sand, from a material called “yttria stabilized zirconium”. The ink-coated floppy disk-sized fuel cells can be placed together into blocks.

Moreover, as oxygen enters the fuel cell a chemical reaction is initiated and this response generates electricity. There is no need to rely on the national electricity grid and pollution is apparently unseen.

What about Cost

According to Sridhar, the bloom Box that is purchased by companies cost around $800 000 but the target is to make it available to average consumers for a cost below $3000. For instance, eBay has five boxes. The CEO John Donahoe said that the Bloom Box is actually generating five times more energy than what eBay uses.

In short, the cost of generating electricity with Bloom box is at around 8 cents per KWh based on some reports. A small tile is enough to ignite a light bulb. Multiplying some more Bloom Box tile would make it possible to ignite a whole house.

Bloom Box can be fueled with either natural gas (fossil Fuel) or renewable sources such as solar, bio-gas or landfill gas.

There are already many companies using the Bloom Box:
1. Google
2. Wal-Mart
3. Fedex
4. Staples,
5. The San Francisco Airport
6. CIA

This is a list of a few. There are many more huge companies, which are using the Bloom Energy. Google have already used a four-unit box fueled by natural gas for 18 months.

There are over $400 million being invested in Bloom Energy. This shows the intense belief in becoming a renewable technology for the future if it turns out to be affordable. People can fuel their house with a natural gas tube by converting it into energy through the fuel cell. The electricity bill will shrink but the gas bill might rise. The challenge is to make the gas recyclable. This would reduce emission and make it a perfect source of renewable energy.

The Video below explains how the technology works

Source of Video: ZD Net

Source of Article: Cnet