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thought this was very interesting. check out: www.Bloomenergy.com/products/architecture
Even more interesting are the number of large corps that are using this product to save thousands of $$ yearly in elect costs.
PG&E, the largest electric company in CA has just put in a very large order for several of its bloom boxes.
Posted : August 31, 2011 2:32 pm
that is cool, wonder if they would work in the VI?
Posted : August 31, 2011 2:41 pm
Topic starter
On the TV program last night, the Engineer who designed this said they were going to put them in Africa to use down the line sometime so I would think they might be able to be used in the VI. It was extremely interesting. He also said that when they really take off, homes could be fitted with these for under $2,000.
Don't know if they'd ever be used here tho. Imagine putting WAPA out of biz. Ha! I would think there would be stiff opposition to these.
Posted : August 31, 2011 3:15 pm
This units use / convert carbon based fuels. Fossil fuels like natural gas, gasoline, etc. or renewable fuels like methane or ethanol.
WAPA already uses fossil fuels (diesel) efficiently in the diesel engine generators. These also could go at the landfills and use the methane that is produced, but WMA is already installing small IC engines for that.
One could consider growing an energy crop and putting into an anaerobic digester to make methane. But the energy content of the methane is only about 20% of the energy content of the raw fuel input. Digesters are expensive. But a dairy farm with an ample herd might be able to produce enough methane to run a 5 or 10 kWe unit. 1000 watts = 1kWe
Most big corps get into fuel cell in order to get on the "green" bandwagon or want some independence or backup from the utility.
Posted : August 31, 2011 5:40 pm
