{{short description|American fuel cell company}} {{Infobox company | name = Bloom Energy | logo = 200px | caption = | type = Public | traded_as = {{NYSE|BE}} (Class A)<br>Russell 2000 Index component | fate = | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = 2001 | founder = K.R. Sridhar, John Finn, Matthias Gottmann, James McElroy, Dien Nguyen | defunct = | location_city = North San Jose Innovation District, San Jose, California | location_country = United States | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = K.R. Sridhar (founder, CEO) | industry = Renewable energy | products = {{ubl | Solid Oxide Bloom Energy Server (Bloom Box) Hydrogen Fuel Cells | Bloom Electrolyzers }} | services = Carbon-free electricity generation | revenue = {{Increase}} $1.47 billion<ref name="macro"/> | revenue_year = 2024 | operating_income = {{Decrease}} $22.9 million<ref name="macro"/> | income_year = 2024 | net_income = {{Increase}} $381.74 million<ref name="macro"/> | net_income_year = 2024 | aum = | assets = {{Increase}} $2,657 million<ref name="macro"/> | assets_year = 2024 | equity = {{Increase}} $585 million<ref name="macro"/> | equity_year = 2024 | num_employees = 2,127 (2024)<ref name="macro"/> | owner = {{ubl|<br>Ameriprise Financial (17.86%)|Columbia Seligman Communications and Information Fund (11.25%)|Vanguard Group (2.61%)(2025)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maybach |first=George |title=HSBC Upgrades Bloom Energy (WBAG:BE) |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/hsbc-upgrades-bloom-energy-wbag-be |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=Nasdaq}}</ref>}} | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = {{URL|www.bloomenergy.com}} | footnotes =Macrotrends<ref name="macro">{{cite web |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/BE/bloom-energy/financial-statements |title=Bloom Energy Financial Statements 2016-2025 |date=2024-12-31 |publisher=Macrotrends |accessdate=2025-07-23}}</ref>}}
'''Bloom Energy''' (formerly, '''Ion America''') is an American public company that designs and manufactures solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) which independently produce electricity onsite for power generation in data centers, manufacturing, and other commercial sectors. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in San Jose, California; its fuel cell technology generates electricity through a chemical conversion process, which differs from most other power sources reliant on combustion, and can use natural gas, biogas or hydrogen as fuel. Its SOFCs are deployed on-site where energy is consumed, reducing reliance on central power grid. Bloom also developed electrolyzers for hydrogen production, and holds more than 1000 patents globally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bloom Energy Patents |url=https://insights.greyb.com/bloom-energy-patents/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=InsightsbyGreyb}}</ref>
The company raised more than $1 billion in venture capital funding before going public in 2018, and has received significant government incentives that promote clean energy. By 2025, the company had installed about 1.4 gigawatts (GW) of Bloom Energy Server systems at over 1,000 locations across nine countries,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BE|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/companies/BE/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=www.reuters.com}}</ref> and developed low-emission, always-on, near zero-carbon green energy and carbon capture technologies for high-energy consumption industries.
==History== The company was founded in 2001<ref name="SFChronicle.com 2018" /> as Ion America, then was renamed Bloom Energy in 2006.<ref name="Hull 2010">{{cite web | last=Hull | first=Dana | title=Bloom Energy unveils its 'Bloom Box' fuel cell | website=The Mercury News | date=February 24, 2010 | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2010/02/24/bloom-energy-unveils-its-bloom-box-fuel-cell/ | access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> Bloom traces its roots to the work of KR Sridhar who created a technology to convert Martian atmospheric gases to oxygen for propulsion and life support, using a solid oxide fuel cell electrolyzer (SOEC),<ref name=NASA>{{Cite web |title=Energy Servers Deliver Clean, Affordable Power {{!}} NASA Spinoff |url=https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2010/er_3.html |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=spinoff.nasa.gov}}</ref> while director of the Space Technologies Laboratory at the University of Arizona.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Global Indian |title=Can KR Sridhar's Bloom Energy compete against solar and wind power |url=https://www.globalindiantimes.com/p/can-kr-sridhars-bloom-energy-compete |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=www.globalindiantimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Sridhar and his team built an electrochemical cell for NASA that is capable of producing air and fuel from electricity generated by a solar panel.<ref name=npre>{{Cite web |last=Communications |first=Grainger Engineering Office of Marketing and |title=Bloom Box Listed Among Best Inventions of 2010 |url=https://npre.illinois.edu/news/stories/bloom-box-listed-among-best-inventions-2010 |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=npre.illinois.edu |language=en}}</ref> Bloom shipped its first 5 kW (kilowatt) unit to the University of Tennessee, where two years of field trials conducted in three U.S. states validated the technology. The first 100 kW commercial units, ES-5000 Energy Servers,<ref name=NASA/> were shipped to Google in July 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-24 |title=NRP's Bloom Energy Debuts Advanced Fuel Cell to Change the World |url=https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/576853main-spring10.pdf |website=NASA The NRP Post}}</ref>
The company worked in secret for eight years before coming out of stealth mode in February 2010,<ref name=npre/> and introducing its Bloom Energy Server, or "Bloom Box", a fuel-cell technology that enables on-site carbon-neutral electricity generation.<ref name="Hull 2010"/> Bloom Energy was featured on ''60 Minutes'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-02-18 |title=The Bloom Box: An Energy Breakthrough? - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-bloom-box-an-energy-breakthrough-18-02-2010/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref> supported by political figures<ref name="Fortune 2018">{{cite web | title=Why the pride of green tech startups is going public | website=Fortune | date=June 18, 2018 | url=http://fortune.com/2018/06/18/data-sheet-green-tech-startups/ | access-date=April 4, 2019|first1=Aaron|last1=Pressman|first2=Adam|last2=Lashinsky }}</ref> and named one of 26 "2010 Tech Pioneers" by the World Economic Forum.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2009-12-17 |title=Tech Pioneers Who Will Change Your Life - TIME |url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1948486_1948485_1948479,00.html |access-date=2025-07-24 |magazine=Time |language=en-US |issn=0040-781X}}</ref> The Bloom Box generator was also chosen among ''Time''{{'s}} "Best 50 Inventions of 2010".<ref name=npre/> The company raised $400 million in funding that year, and had 300 employees.<ref name="Hull 2010"/> The ''San Francisco Chronicle'' later reported that Bloom had "a coming-out party packed with politicians and Silicon Valley elite".<ref name="SFChronicle.com 2018">{{cite web | title=Bloom Energy, Silicon Valley fuel-cell unicorn, has a high-powered IPO | website=SFChronicle.com | date=July 25, 2018 | url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Bloom-Energy-Silicon-Valley-fuel-cell-maker-13103995.php|first=David |last=Baker | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Fortune 2016">{{cite web | title=Silicon Valley fuel cell maker Bloom Energy has filed for an IPO | website=Fortune | date=October 6, 2016 | url=http://fortune.com/2016/10/06/bloom-energy-ipo/ |first=Katie|last=Fehrenbacher|access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref>
In 2011, the company also began selling electricity produced by Bloom Energy Servers, rather than selling the units themselves, underwriting manufacture of the fuel cells.<ref name="Eaton 2011">{{cite web | last=Eaton | first=Kit | title=Now you can buy Bloom Energy's mystical fuel cell electricity without any gizmos | website=Fast Company | date=January 21, 2011 | url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1719184/now-you-can-buy-bloom-energys-mystical-fuel-cell-electricity-without-any-gizmos | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Kanellos 2011">{{cite web | last=Kanellos | first=Michael | title=Bloom Energy's fuel cells-as-a-service: do the economics work? | website=Greentech Media | date=January 20, 2011 | url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bloom-energys-fuel-cells-as-a-service-do-the-economics-work#gs.49ubbx | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Data Center Knowledge 2019" /> A federal subsidy for fuel cells expired in 2016,<ref name="Chernova 2018" /> and the California Self-Generation Incentive Program was discontinued the following year,<ref name="Chernova 2018" /><ref name="Nguyen Wagner Villarreal 2016">{{cite web | last1=Nguyen | first1=Vicky | last2=Wagner | first2=Liz | last3=Villarreal | first3=Mark | title=Incentive money for fuel cell makers may end | website=NBC Bay Area | date=March 31, 2016 | url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/State-Regulators-Consider-Decision-to-End-Big-Benefits-for-Fuel-Cells-374152691.html | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> as the state focused its subsidies on batteries.<ref name="Fortune 2016" />
Bloom was valued at $2.9 billion in 2011,<ref name="John 20182">{{cite web | last=St. John | first=Jeff| title=What a rumored IPO would mean for Bloom Energy | website=Greentech Media | date=March 22, 2018 | url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bloom-energy-rumored-ipo#gs.49b2yn | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Chernova 2018">{{cite web | last=Chernova | first=Yuliya | title=Bloom Energy's IPO plan is back on track | website=WSJ | date=March 19, 2018 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bloom-energys-ipo-plan-is-back-on-track-1521492951 | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> then producing about one Bloom Box per day,<ref name="Reddall 2010">{{cite web | last=Reddall | first=Braden | title=Bloom Energy poised to produce one box a day | website=U.S. | date=October 14, 2010 | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-summit-bloomenergy-idUSTRE69C6KE20101014 | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> until opening a factory in Newark, Delaware, in April 2012.<ref name="LaMonica 2012">{{cite web | last=LaMonica | first=Martin | title=Apple data center helps fuel Bloom Energy move to east coast | website=CNET | date=April 30, 2012 | url=https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-data-center-helps-fuel-bloom-energy-move-to-east-coast/ | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> By 2013, it had raised $1.1 billion in funding,<ref name="John 2018">{{cite web | last=St. John | first=Jeff| title=Bloom Energy's S-1 by the Numbers | website=Greentech Media | date=June 14, 2018 | url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/bloom-energys-s-1-by-the-numbers#gs.49ogom | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> which was followed by additional funding rounds, in 2014 and 2015.<ref name="John 2018" /> Company revenues grew rapidly, though its development phase was unprofitable,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Year-End Reflections on the Fuel Cell Industry in 2010 |url=https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/year-end-reflections-on-fuel-cells-2010 |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=www.greentechmedia.com |date=13 May 2024 }}</ref> in some years losing more than $200 million.<ref name="SFChronicle.com 2018" /><ref name="Data Center Knowledge 2019">{{cite web | title=Can Bloom Energy transform the data center industry? | website=Data Center Knowledge | date=February 21, 2019 | url=https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/data-center-podcast/can-bloom-energy-transform-data-center-industry |first=Yevgeniy |last=Sverdlik | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref>
Federal subsidies that had expired in 2016 were restored in 2018.<ref name="Chernova 2018" /> Bloom Energy filed an IPO that July, stating that it did not expect to be profitable in the near future, and disclosing a legal settlement with some of its investors.<ref name="John 2018" /><ref name="Farrell 2018">{{cite web | last=Farrell | first=Maureen | title=Clean-tech company Bloom Energy soars 68% in trading debut | website=WSJ | date=July 25, 2018 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/clean-tech-company-bloom-energy-soars-67-in-trading-debut-1532562718 | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Chernova 20182">{{cite web | last=Chernova | first=Yuliya | title=On eve of IPO, Bloom Energy faces questions about settlement with investors | website=WSJ | date=July 24, 2018 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/on-eve-of-ipo-bloom-energy-faces-questions-about-settlement-with-former-investors-1532431801 | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> Later that year, Bloom moved headquarters from Sunnyvale to San Jose.<ref name="The Mercury News 2018">{{cite web | title=Bloom Energy strikes deal to shift HQ to north San Jose | website=The Mercury News | date=April 27, 2018 | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04/27/bloom-energy-strikes-deal-shift-hq-north-san-jose-google/ | access-date=April 4, 2019|first=George|last=Avalos}}</ref> By 2020, shares had lost nearly 50% in value. Though not profitable in its first 19 years of operation, the company had raised over $1.7 billion in capital for its technology.<ref name="forbes">{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2020/02/13/the-forbes-investigation-how-bloom-energy-blew-through-billions-promising-cheap-green-tech-that-falls-short/ |title=The Forbes Investigation: How Bloom Energy Blew Through Billions Promising Cheap, Green Tech That Falls Short |date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 8, 2020 |last=Helman |first=Christopher |work=Forbes}}</ref> In July 2019, Duke Energy corporation announced the intention of acquiring a 37 MW portfolio of distributed SOFC technology projects from Bloom Energy.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Duke Energy acquires project portfolio from Bloom Energy |journal=Fuel Cells Bulletin |date=August 2019 |volume=2019 |issue=8 |pages=7 |doi=10.1016/S1464-2859(19)30328-1 |bibcode=2019FCBu.2019RS..7. }}</ref><ref name="2019-07-02-zacks_nasdaq">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/duke-energy-arm-to-acquire-bloom-energys-fuel-cell-projects-2019-07-02 |title=Duke Energy Arm to Acquire Bloom Energy's Fuel Cell Projects |publisher=Zacks |website=www.nasdaq.com |language=en |date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=2020-12-31}}</ref> later reselling the distributed fuel-cell projects managed by Bloom to ArcLight Capital Partners, in October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kovaleski |first=Dave |date=2023-10-10 |title=Duke Energy completes sale of distributed generation portfolio to ArcLight |url=https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/41408-duke-energy-completes-sale-of-distributed-generation-portfolio-to-arclight/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Daily Energy Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2020, in preparation of a possible critical demand for ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic; Bloom pivoted its operation to repair and refurbish ventilators for the state of California.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-29 |title=Video Release: In Sunnyvale, Governor Newsom and Mayor Liccardo Tour Bloom Energy, Which is Refurbishing Ventilators for Use in California Hospitals During COVID-19 Outbreak |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/28/video-release-in-sunnyvale-governor-newsom-and-mayor-liccardo-tour-bloom-energy-which-is-refurbishing-ventilators-for-use-in-california-hospitals-during-covid-19-outbreak/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Governor of California}}</ref> and helped provide a mobile vaccination clinic to about 80,000 individuals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-01 |title=Valley Health Foundation honors Bloom Energy founder |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/10/01/valley-health-foundation-honors-bloom-energy-founder/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=The Mercury News}}</ref> After generating hydrogen from its SOEC at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California,<ref name=Herald/> to excellent results, generating hydrogen with 20–25% more efficiency than traditional methods;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergenson |first=Angie |date=2024-12-21 |title=Why Major Players Like NASA And Shell Partner With Bloom Energy |url=https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/nasa-shell-partner-bloom-energy/8568757/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Hydrogen Fuel News}}</ref> in November 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-02 |title=Bloom Energy Inaugurates High Volume Electrolyzer Production Line |url=https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/bloom-energy-inaugurates-high-volume-electrolyzer-production-line |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=fuelcellsworks.com}}</ref> Bloom Energy's Delaware factory began manufacturing its high-volume commercial electrolyzer, the largest and most efficient in the world to date, producing 20-25% more hydrogen per MW than either proton exchange membrane (PEM) or alkaline electrolyzers.<ref name=Herald>{{Cite web |last=Trendafilova |first=Petya |date=2023-05-04 |title=Bloom Energy Demonstrates Its High-Efficiency Solid Oxide Electrolyzers |url=https://carbonherald.com/bloom-energy-demonstrates-its-high-efficiency-solid-oxide-electrolyzers/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Carbon Herald}}</ref>
In November 2024, Bloom Energy partnered with SK Eternix to power two Eco Parks with Bloom SOFCs by Spring 2026, in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Min-ha |first=Park |date=2024-11-04 |title=SK Eternix secures W461b funding for fuel cell projects |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/article/3846387 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=The Korea Herald}}</ref> the largest fuel cell installation in history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=Bloom Energy Announces Largest Fuel Cell Project |url=https://fuelcellsworks.com/2024/11/07/fuel-cells/bloom-energy-announces-world-s-largest-fuel-cell-installation-in-history |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=fuelcellsworks.com }}</ref> The same month, the company agreed to expand its existing SOFC installation with Quanta Computers by 150%, in order to power critical artificial intelligence (AI) industry hardware,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-11 |title=Bloom Energy and Quanta Expand Partnership for AI Revolution - Fuelcellsworks |url=https://fuelcellsworks.com/2024/11/11/clean-energy/bloom-energy-and-quanta-computer-expand-partnership-to-power-ai-revolution |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=fuelcellsworks.comn}}</ref> and was contracted by American Electric Power (AEP) to provide a GW of fuel cell capacity to industrial customers on-site,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Sean |date=2024-11-15 |title=While the grid catches up to demand, AEP secures up to 1 GW of fuel cells for data centers, large energy users |url=https://www.power-eng.com/onsite-power/while-the-grid-catches-up-to-demand-aep-secures-up-to-1-gw-of-fuel-cells-for-data-centers-large-energy-users/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Power Engineering }}</ref> supporting an increasing demand for energy to fuel the needs of data centers, especially those powering AI.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kilgore |first=Erin |date=2025-03-03 |title=Bloom Energy's Latest Advancements And Market Insights – Hydrogen Fuel News |url=https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/bloom-energys-latest-advancements/8569887/ |access-date=2025-10-07}}</ref>
In February 2025, digital infrastructure company Equinix increased its Bloom contract to exceed 100 MW of combined electricity to power its International Business Exchange (IBX) data centers throughout the U.S.<ref name=EquChart/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Turek |first=Susan Elizabeth |date=2025-03-18 |title=Major companies share groundbreaking plans for the future of energy: 'We see exciting opportunities' |url=https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/bloom-energy-chart-industries-carbon-capture/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=www.msn.com}}</ref> That month, the company also entered a carbon capture partnership with Chart Industries to provide low-emission, always-on, near zero-carbon power using natural gas and carbon sequestration technology for high-energy consumption industries,<ref name=EquChart>{{Cite web |last=Skidmore |first=Zachary |date=2025-02-21 |title=Bloom extends fuel cell supply agreement with Equinix |url=https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/bloom-extends-fuel-cell-supply-agreement-with-equinix/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=www.datacenterdynamics.com |language=en}}</ref> to meet the increasing demands of AI and cryptocurrency.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=Bloom Energy and Chart Industries Partner to Scale Cost-Effective Carbon Capture for Natural Gas Power |url=https://esgnews.com/bloom-energy-and-chart-industries-partner-to-scale-cost-effective-carbon-capture-for-natural-gas-power/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=ESG News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Max |first=John |date=2025-02-14 |title=How Two Industry Leaders Are Making Carbon Capture Cheaper And More Efficient|url=https://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/carbon-capture-cheaper-efficient/8569671/ |access-date=2025-10-07}}</ref>
In April 2026, Bloom Energy and Oracle announced a partnership for 2.8 gigawatts of Bloom Energy's fuel cell capacity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-13 |title=Bloom Energy to supply up to 2.8 GW of fuel cells under expanded Oracle deal |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/bloom-energy-supply-up-28-gw-fuel-cells-under-expanded-oracle-deal-2026-04-13/ |access-date=2026-05-24 |website=Reuters}}</ref> This would include Project Jupiter, a 2.45 gigawatt data center in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, powered entirely by Bloom Energy's products.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Segal |first=David |date=2025-12-07 |title=A Mysterious Company Came to Town With a $165 Billion Idea |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/business/boarderplex-new-mexico-data-center-mystery.html |access-date=2026-05-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Oracle claimed that this partnership would "dramatically reduce water use" compared to using a previously planned natural gas power plant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=Clara |date=2026-05-13 |title=Bipartisan Senate Push Aims to Reduce Water Waste at Data Centers |url=https://www.wsj.com/pro/sustainable-business/bipartisan-senate-push-aims-to-reduce-water-waste-at-data-centers-7814f5a1 |access-date=2026-05-25 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Products and services== [[File:Ventilators at Bloom Energy 01.jpg|thumb|During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloom Energy refurbished ventilators for the State of California to use in treatment of the virus in 2020.|left]] Bloom Energy leverages natural gas and other fuels to create electricity through chemical reactions without combustion, and builds decentralized energy systems that produce electricity. The company designs, manufactures, markets, and installs SOFC power generators, branded as Bloom Energy Servers (also known as Bloom Boxes) that use fuel cells to convert natural gas, or biogas, into electricity for on-site power generation.<ref name="Chernova 2018" /><ref name="Baker 2010">{{cite web | last=Baker | first=David R. | title=Bloom Energy unveils 'power plant in a box' | website=SFGate | date=February 25, 2010 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/green/article/Bloom-Energy-unveils-power-plant-in-a-box-3271755.php | access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref> According to ''The New York Times'', SOFCs are "considered the most efficient but most technologically challenging fuel-cell technology."<ref name="Woody 2010">{{cite web | last=Woody | first=Todd | title=Bloom Energy claims a new fuel cell technology | website=The New York Times | date=February 24, 2010 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/business/energy-environment/24bloom.html | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> Instead of precious metals, Bloom Energy's fuel cells use wafers made from sand that are stained with proprietary ink.<ref name="Baker 2010" /><ref name="Woody 2010" /> As fuel passes over the sand wafers, it mixes with oxygen, creating a chemical reaction that produces electricity.<ref name="Woody 2010" /><ref name="Schwartz 2010">{{cite web | last=Schwartz | first=Ariel | title=How does the Bloom Box energy server work? | website=Fast Company | date=February 25, 2010 | url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1561844/how-does-bloom-box-energy-server-work | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> The chemical reaction takes place at about 800 degrees Celsius (1,500 degrees Fahrenheit).<ref name="Hull 2010" /><ref name="Schwartz 2010" />
Bloom Energy Server systems are typically installed at customer locations, with long-term contracts to supply electricity.<ref name="Chernova 2015">{{cite web | last=Chernova | first=Yuliya | title=Bloom Energy continues capital buildup with $130 Million | website=WSJ | date=January 20, 2015 | url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/01/20/bloom-energy-continues-capital-buildup-with-130-million/ | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> The units can be installed as a micro power grid in a small community, or be clustered together to create an energy farm for large-scale utility.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-22 |title=K.R. Sridhar: Bloom Energy's Fuel-Cell Guru |url=https://www.newsweek.com/kr-sridhar-bloom-energys-fuel-cell-guru-70571 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> Bloom Boxes are often used for on-site power generation at data centers, being a primary driver of rising electricity demand,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Lisa Martine |date=2025-05-06 |title=Can Bloom Energy capitalize on the data center frenzy? |url=https://www.latitudemedia.com/news/can-bloom-energy-capitalize-on-the-data-center-frenzy/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Latitude Media}}</ref> as well as health centers,<ref name="SFChronicle.com 2018" /> manufacturing facilities, and other large buildings.<ref name="The Mercury News 2018" /><ref name="Chernova 2015" /> Power produced by company-owned distributed power generators is offered at a rate 5-15% lower than the local power grid.<ref name="SFChronicle.com 2018" />
The fuel cells are housed in metal cabinets,<ref name="Data Center Knowledge 2019" /> with each producing about 200 to 300 kilowatts (kW) of electricity.<ref name="SFChronicle.com 2018" /> As of 2018, Bloom had installed about 300 megawatts of units.<ref name="Data Center Knowledge 2018">{{cite web | title=Bloom Energy files for IPO, expects data center business to grow | website=Data Center Knowledge | date=June 13, 2018 | url=https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/business/bloom-energy-files-ipo-expects-data-center-business-grow | access-date=April 25, 2019}}</ref> Delaware state data found, in 2014, that Bloom's fuel cells produce about 823 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour (MWh),<ref name="Nguyen Wagner Villarreal 2014">{{cite web | last1=Nguyen | first1=Vicky | last2=Wagner | first2=Liz | last3=Villarreal | first3=Mark | title=Is Bloom Energy greenwashing the public? | website=NBC Bay Area | date=October 20, 2014 | url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Is-Bloom-Energy-Greenwashing-the-Public-279813752.html | access-date=April 4, 2019}}</ref> less than the approximately 1,000 pounds produced when power is taken from the electrical grid, and higher than the 777 Bloom used to advertise, without calculating the decline in efficiency of the appliances as they age.<ref name="Nguyen Wagner Villarreal 2014" /> As of 2018 data, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports coal producing 2,210 pounds of {{CO2}} per MWh, and natural gas at 920 pounds per MWh.<ref name="EIA2020">{{cite web | title=Frequently Asked Questions | website=EIA | date=March 10, 2020 | url=https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=74&t=11 | access-date=March 10, 2020}}</ref>
==See also== * Bloom Energy Server
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website}} * {{Finance links | symbol = BE | sec_cik = BE | google = NYSE:BE | yahoo = BE | bloomberg = BE:US | reuters = BE | nasdaq = BE }}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Fuel cell manufacturers Category:Manufacturing companies based in San Jose, California Category:Renewable energy companies of the United States Category:Electric power companies of the United States Category:Energy companies established in 2001 Category:Renewable resource companies established in 2001 Category:American companies established in 2001 Category:2001 establishments in California Category:Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange Category:2018 initial public offerings Category:Publicly traded electric power companies of the United States