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One man with over 40 patents in electrochemical energy conversion is one of the founding fathers of model fuel cell technology with a career that dates back to the 1960s managing Gemini fuel cell projects for NASA. The second man regarded as one of NASA’s top experts in trace contaminant control and air revitalization for life support systems. The third a professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arizona who worked for the NASA Mars program to convert the Martian atmospheric gases to oxygen for propulsion and life support. These three men came together in 2001 to form Bloom Energy headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA with the goal to develop clean, reliable, affordable, on-site power to provide a clear path to energy independence.This past week Bloom Energy revealed their break-through device called a “Bloom Box”, a unique alternative energy device. Bloom Energy claims the boxes are one of the most energy efficient power generators available, will lower greenhouse emissions, and reduce electricity costs.

The Bloom Box is definitely the kid on an entirely new block. The fuel cells are similar to batteries but don’t lose their power. They have an advantage over the traditional “hydrogen” fuel cells. For one the beach sand powder used to make the fuel cell of the Bloom Box costs less than the platinum or corrosive acids of some. The Bloom Box can use renewable or fossil fuels. It can store and generate energy. And according to Bloom Energy the Bloom Box also converts “fuel into electricity at twice the rate of some legacy technologies.”

The company website says for a Bloom Energy Server that takes up the space of a normal sized parking space provides 100 kilowatts of power, the amount needed to meet the needs of 100 average homes. It also states that “customers generate their own electricity at a cost savings that typically translates to a three to five year payback on their investment. Now that sounds exciting! But how realistic is this for today?

Penn Homes is a Certified Green Builder and as such it is important to us to research and better understand new technologies as they become available. Hardly a day goes by that we don’t get asked about solar panels for a home to be built. Unfortunately in our region of the country the cost of solar energy still outweighs the benefit. Energy costs in Louisiana are quite low compared to other areas. Because of this low cost of energy and the high cost of solar panels the homeowner won’t be able to see any financial reward for the investment for ten to fifteen years. By that time newer less expensive products should have come to the marketplace.  Our goal is put in place simpler energy saving features, design better floor plans and cleaner healthier air systems into each of our homes.

As of today the Bloom Energy Servers cost an average of $700,000 to $800,000 each. This is 3 ½ times the value of the average home in Shreveport and Greenwood. The national average energy cost is approximately ten cents per kilowatt-hour. By some calculations the return on the Bloom Box investment is seven to eight years compared to the three to five cited on the Bloom Energy website. But I would suggest that return is more reasonable than some other options. However, again, here in our region of the county the cost per kilowatt-hour is less than half of the national average. That puts us back in the frustrating fifteen year range, and the much more reasonable $3000 home version is still a decade away.

Currently Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Cox Enterprises, eBay, FedEx, Google, Staples and Wal-Mart have begun to use the Bloom Servers. I hope this trend continues because if it is as good as it sounds, the benefits and applications of these devices might really change the way the world generates and consumes energy.