

Production facility

Installation at eBay's offices  (Source: Bloom Energy)














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RE: Interesting...
By HotFoot on 2/24/2010 3:45:41 PM , Rating: 3
Only 7% grid losses is a surprisingly low number.

Not too many coal plants are going to be running at 45% efficiency. Typical is going to be more in the 30-35% range. High-temperature fuel cells have can hit 60% or better, so if one takes the lower range of efficiencies for coal plants then 'twice' is pretty close.

RE: Interesting...
By menace on 2/24/2010 5:52:02 PM , Rating: 2
Interesting how they include efficiency of the electrical delivery network (grid loss, etc) but simply ignore the inefficiencies and delivery costs that would be imposed by this paradigm change. Whether it be beefing up existing NG delivery systems, having to tanker in more LNG in from middle east, installing alternative fuel pipeline(s) or bringing back local LPG trucking in fuels and storing them on site tanks like they used to do in rural and suburb areas in the 60's.

Also assuming such technology does take off (due to continued "green" subsidies being used pick the winners) the electrical grid will become even less efficient and the economics of the conventional power grid will be stressed towards the point of collapse. So we feed subsidies to favored "green" industries to collapse the "brown" economy. Yeah, sounds like we are in for some "change".

RE: Interesting...
By Cypherdude1 on 2/25/10, Rating: -1
RE: Interesting...
By Dorkyman on 2/25/2010 11:19:28 AM , Rating: 2
If I could buy a power plant that provided monthly savings, $3k would be a trivial cost to pay. Heck, a used car is more than $3k. But I don't believe the hype. Big corporations often do something not because it's cost-effective but rather because it makes them look socially responsible or trendy. Me, I could care less. I want lower net costs, and even with huge government subsidies fuel cells don't pencil out.

Also, natural gas did indeed take a huge jump a few years ago--and then fell back just as fast. I think current costs are about 1/3 what they were a few years ago.

Finally, are you serious? 57 degrees? Do you advise your visitors to bring parkas?

RE: Interesting...
By drew494949 on 2/26/2010 3:34:14 AM , Rating: 2
Ever heard of Financing? People will finance if you can show a definite savings in excess of their power bill. Here in Florida, a normal house, in summer, has a $225 electric bill, and our state is about to approve a 35% increase to those bills.

If they can show that an homeowner with at $250/month electric bill can cut that by more than half if not most of the way, then $3,000 is only a small investment toward the goal of energy independence. The more homes and corporations you get off the grid for dependence the faster your state can become neutral on energy or even an exporter.

It's time to get Utility generation out of family budgets.


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