Bloom Energy

[Unisaw]

60 Minutes

This story ran tonight on 60 minutes. "A Bloom Box in every home" will replace the power grid - providing energy 24/7/365. The public announcement is this Wed.

Bloom Boxes have been providing power for the last 18 months to Google, eBay, Staples....... Great story, although it has a bit of the Segway air about it and the project was funded by the same VC firm to the tune of $100 million. The technology began with a NASA project and a machine that would have provided oxygen to astronauts on Mars using fuel cells.

[mjrpes]

Very cool

Like that one guy said, "I'm hopeful but skeptical."

[lars63]

I agree, this is a good thing but I have doubts

[Eraser]

Wireless eh?
I guess the people that get headaches from 802.11n signals are in for a treat.

[Foo]

Same guy who was behind segway's launch overhype is also backing this. So, y'know, calling bullshit here.

Also lets be clear about terms. They're talking about a device that'll significantly increase fuel efficiency, not some magical energy generating device.

Remember a year or two back when a company was hyping its magical infinite energy device? Then when unveiled it turned out they were capable of powering maybe a single LED, and drew energy from vibrations around it, just like wristwatches have been doing for decades?

Derp.

[obsidian]

They're talking about a device that'll significantly increase fuel efficiency, not some magical energy generating device.

Agreed. It sounds like some sort of efficient combustion generator, it still requires fuel and oxygen but rather than generate huge amounts of heat, it converts more of that fuel directly to electricity, like the process of respiration. Regardless if you are burning oil, gas or biomass, it's still has carbon emissions, though probably at a much better power ratio than current combustion generators.

[Tsakali]

yeah but this actually seems to work...it's all down to who buys them out, and how cheaply they can be produced...at that point they prolly allow you to "rent" one like cable tv boxes...

[shadd_]

the fact information on emissions was not really given makes me skeptical.

however it may have potential to replace the huge distribution systems in place which cost big big money to run/maintain.

HUGE tracts of land that sit deforested because of transmission lines could potentially be reforested.

[scared?]

how much will it cost a month?...how reliable?....thats all that matters...

[Unisaw]

Wireless eh?
I guess the people that get headaches from 802.11n signals are in for a treat.

"Wireless" refers to detaching from the grid - ie the wires.

[Unisaw]

Same guy who was behind segway's launch overhype is also backing this. So, y'know, calling bullshit here.

Derp.

The same guy also funded Google and Netscape. You win some.....

[mjrpes]

Same guy who was behind segway's launch overhype is also backing this. So, y'know, calling bullshit here..

The segway failed because they misjudged demand for a totally novel form of transport. The segway itself is a great piece of technology and is in no way vaporware; I'd just rather walk and get some exercise than have a device do this for me.

The Bloom Box apparently offers a highly efficient way of converting fuel to electricity, with the CEO implying that it is much more affordable (and efficient?) than any other fuel cell technology in development. In contrast with the segway, many other companies for decades have been trying to do the same thing. So if their claim holds then this is definitely a big step forward for the whole alternate energy industry.

With luck they will release enough details about it this week that experts can give some real feedback on this technology rather than have to listen to the internet echo chamber.

[Dave]

I'm holding out for the Robert Bussard/EMC2 Fusion Corporation project

[Unisaw]

Launch site: Bloom Energy

It does have that Stirling Engine/Segway hype feel about it.