Bloom Energy Launches Advanced CHP Solution for Net Zero Heating and Cooling
Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) is now introducing the Bloom Energy Server™ as an innovative Combined Heat and Power (CHP) solution that leverages a high-temperature exhaust stream (>350°C) to produce industrial steam and absorption chilling.
Approximately 50% of global industrial energy consumption is attributed to steam generation. The high-temperature exhaust stream generated by the Bloom Energy Server can be utilized to produce steam, allowing customers not only to generate high-efficiency clean electricity but also to produce high-temperature steam without the need for additional fuel input. This approach significantly reduces operating costs and carbon emissions. Bloom’s technology provides a unique pathway to decarbonization for various industries, including chemicals, petroleum and refining, pulp and paper, food processing, and primary metals, which was not possible with older CHP systems.
Moreover, as temperatures rise, the demand for cooling has also increased substantially. Currently, most cooling processes rely on electricity and use hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerants, which are potent greenhouse gases. Bloom Energy’s offering enables customers to replace HFC chillers with absorption chillers that do not use HFCs, providing a more environmentally friendly cooling solution.
Bloom’s advanced CHP solution is particularly appealing to major CHP markets like Germany, South Korea, Italy, Japan, and the United States. These regions have a significant number of operating CHP systems that are over 20 years old and due for replacement. Bloom has already secured its first advanced CHP customer, Geothermie-Gesellschaft Bruchsal GmbH, an affiliate of EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG), a Stuttgart-based energy conglomerate in Germany.
Ravi Prasher, Chief Technology Officer of Bloom Energy, emphasized that an optimal CHP solution should possess high electrical efficiency, high-temperature heat, and high overall efficiency. While other technologies like combustion engines or low-temperature fuel cells lack the capability to achieve all three attributes, Bloom’s solution successfully accomplishes this. The company’s new CHP capabilities, combined with its greater than 50% electrical efficiency, enable Bloom Energy to achieve over 90% combined efficiency while delivering high-temperature heat. These advancements further demonstrate the company’s commitment to providing innovative low-carbon energy solutions.
