Fuel Cell Marvel "Bloom Box" Gaining Momentum

Many sources are continuing to excitedly report on the latest in a long line of startups chasing the holy grail of power sources. This incarnation, the "Bloom Box" from Bloom Energy, promises a power-plant-in-a-box that you can literally put in your backyard, and has received backing from companies like eBay, Google, Staples, FedEx, and Walmart. CBS recently aired an exclusive interview with K.R. Sridhar about his shiny new box. "So what is a Bloom Box exactly? Well, $700,000 to $800,000 will buy you a 'corporate sized' unit. Inside the box are a unique kind of fuel cell consisting of ceramic disks coated with green and black 'inks.' The inks somehow transform a stream of methane (or other hydrocarbons) and oxygen into power, when the box heats up to its operating temperature of 1,000 degrees Celsius. To get a view of the cost and benefits, eBay installed 5 of the boxes nine months ago. It says it has saved $100,000 USD on energy since."

REq

[binarylarry]

K.R. Sridhar's only response when questioned how it worked was: "Who run Barter Town?"

Amazing

[Hatta]

A box that converts hydrocarbons to energy? What will they think of next?

Re:Payback period?

[skirmish666]

You're forgetting about the seller listing & paypal fees

Master Blaster Run Barter Town!

[Anonymous Coward]

Not shit, ENERGY!

The Secret Ink...

[jeillah]

...is made from Energizer Bunny blood!!!

Retro

[NEDHead]

I'll be in line when it can fit on my shoulder, and I can dance in my plaid bellbottoms and funky shades

Fuel and Oxygen

[emagery]

Okay okay... so this is a 'green' technology. The 60 minutes report I saw had it cutting one source of fuel for one entity (some campus and using natural gas) down by 50%. That, in itself is great.... but wait. Oxygen and 'fuel' are used. I realize that concern about too much CO2 in the air is one thing, but there is also the issue of too little O2 in the air. It is not a life-threatening issue yet, but could potentially be with all the combustion of fuels, declining forests and, now, these miracle machines. How much O2 do they consume? What'll happen when there's pentillions of them doing their thing all around the world? A lot of the consequences of industrialism were not immediately foreseen... but this time around, this one makes me wonder.

Methane Powered?

[The Insane One]

Excellent! Mine will be self-powered.

Re:REq

[Anonymous Coward]

This better not be another hoax. Bust a deal, face the wheel.

Regardless eBay appears to be very happy with them

[Astrorunner]

They did rate BloomBox as "A+++++++++ Would buy from again!"

Re:Payback period?

[Dalambertian]

I'm guessing you don't tip very well ;)

obligatory...

[gyranthir]

Cubert: Your explanations are pure weapons grade balognium. It's all impossible. Professor Farnsworth: Nothing is impossible. Not if you can imagine it. That's what being a scientist is all about. Cubert: No, that's what being a magical elf is all about.

Re:Payback period?

[Red Flayer]

In the same way, individual yeast in a jar of sugar water will ferment, ferment, ferment until the alcohol concentration is so high it kills them all. Each yeast is just doing what it needs to survive.

Great. Now I'm *really* conflicted. Most of the time I lament the tragedy of the commons, because it really does lead to ragedy. But now every time I drink a bottle-conditioned beer I'm going to *celebrate* it instead.

Here's to you, Mr. Conflicted-about-processes-leading-to-delicious-imbibables-man.

I love how they presented it on 60 Minutes

[Anonymous Coward]

In that they had to dumb it down for the dummies. "This is silicon- sand- like you would find on any beach in the world!" Leslie Stahl: "Really? Sand? You're kidding!"

Re:Payback period?

[afidel]

Yes, because Google and ebay already have RAED (redundant array of expensive datacenters).

Re:Self-hosted?

[bill_mcgonigle]

Are those the guys who announced a partnership with GE a decade ago to put fridge-sized fuel cells in people's basements within a year?
Man, what a disappointment that turned out to be.

yeah, they helped me get smarter about investing in vapor.