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Bloom Energy powers showcase real estate development in India
NEWS to see an escalation of power outages caused by extreme weather events. Microgrids – which can operate independently of the main electric grid, and indefinitely – have so far been cumbersome and complex to design and implement. To reduce this complexity, Bloom Energy is now offering a simplified microgrid solution, comprising a solid oxide fuel cell Bloom Energy Server with fully integrated energy storage and the microgrid components needed to power critical facility loads in the event of a grid power outage [see also the Bloom item below]. The system utilises natural gas or directed biogas supplied through the existing, highly reliable underground pipeline system, making it much less susceptible to the impacts of extreme weather. Bloom Energy has taken a further step to make microgrids more accessible to customers. Contracts for non-utility power typically have long commitments of 15 years or more, making it challenging for customers to switch to alternative forms of power if they are uncertain whether they will still occupy the same property, or their business planning does not stretch that long. Bloom Energy is therefore now offering energy-as-a-service solutions with terms as short as five years, substantially reducing customer commitments. In a recent blog post, Asim Hussain – the company’s VP of Commercial Strategy and Customer Experience – reported on how Bloom Energy Server powered microgrids kept Home Depot stores open during major New York power outages in July. The Home Depot has fuel cell power plants at more than 200 stores, many of them supplied through Bloom Energy’s alliance with Southern Company [FCB, November 2016, p4].
plants – formerly called Direct FuelCell® – are especially beneficial for urban and suburban locations where land is either expensive or scarce, given the unmatched power density per square foot (or m2) versus utility-scale solar. For example, in New Haven, Connecticut, United Illuminating generates 2.8 MW with the SureSource 3000 fuel cell on a utilityowned 0.25 acre (0.1 ha) parcel of land next to its substation, avoiding the need for and cost of transmission while enhancing the resiliency of energy supply [FCB, August 2014, p6 and December 2015, p4]. Municipalities benefit with clean and quiet power generated locally, and receive property tax revenue from formerly vacant land, while the state receives sales tax. Behind-the-meter SureSource MCFC solutions support industrial processes generating continuous power and heat to ensure the onsite operations of the facility. Another example is at Pfizer’s 160 acre (65 ha) R&D centre in Groton, Connecticut, where the mission-critical infrastructure is supported with two SureSource 3000 fuel cells generating 5.6 MW, increasing resiliency and supporting sustainability objectives [December 2016, p6]. Meanwhile, FuelCell Energy has appointed Jason Few as its new President and CEO, effective 26 August. Few – who joined the FuelCell Energy Board of Directors in November 2018 – will work with the company’s executive leadership team to revitalise and advance the company, including its ongoing efforts to restructure, enhance commercial activity, and improve operational effectiveness [July 2019, p12]. He has more than 30 years’ experience at Fortune 500 companies and privately held technology, telecom, and energy firms. FuelCell Energy: www.fuelcellenergy.com
Bloom Energy Corporation: www.bloomenergy.com
FCE marks 9 million MWH of clean power generation, new CEO
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has reached a significant clean power generation milestone, generating a total of more than 9 million MWh by SureSource™ molten carbonate fuel cell power plants globally since the first commercial installation. The company has also appointed Jason Few as its new President and CEO. FuelCell Energy’s SureSource systems are currently installed and operating on three continents, with many owned by leading utility and industrial companies. These power
September 2019
Bloom Energy powers showcase real estate development in India
U
S-based Bloom Energy is part of a consortium working on a firstof-its-kind commercial real estate development in Bangalore, India that will be powered by clean reliable electricity generated onsite using natural gas. The Whitefield Tower business-hospitality development will feature premium office space, two levels of ‘shoppable entertainment’, a 60-room ‘boutique’ hotel, high-end co-working spaces, shared services for business, and social offerings including media, art and exhibition spaces.
Bloom is partnering with Hong Kong-based real estate developer Atelier Global, and India’s leading natural gas companies GAIL (India) Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation, on what is expected to be an iconic development in Bangalore (officially known as Bengaluru). Atelier plans for 1 MW of power for the development to be provided by Bloom Energy Servers running on natural gas provided by GAIL. In 2016 Bloom Energy partnered with GAIL to transform India’s energy future through the use of innovative technology, signing a Memorandum of Understanding to deploy natural gas-based solid oxide fuel cell technology for power generation [FCB, September 2016, p7]. Bloom Energy was founded and is led by Chairman and CEO KR Sridhar, an entrepreneur originally from India, and employs 300 staff there. The Bloom Energy Server development at Whitefield Tower is the first natural gaspowered SOFC project in India since the launch of the US-India Gas Task Force. The task force was established by Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Dhamendra Pradhan and US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in April 2018, to support the Indian government’s goal to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix from 6.5% to 15% by 2030. US tech giant Intel has previously deployed Bloom Energy Servers to meet the power needs of its growing Bangalore campus, where a 3.5 MW system integrated with Intel’s ‘smart and green’ building design reduces CO2 emissions while delivering more reliable, higher quality power [see also the Bloom item above]. Bloom Energy: www.bloomenergy.com Atelier Global: www.atelier-global.com GAIL (India) Ltd: www.gailonline.com Indian Oil Corporation: www.iocl.com
FUELING
H2 Mobility adds another four hydrogen stations in Germany
T
he H2 Mobility Deutschland joint venture has announced four more hydrogen refueling stations in Germany, with two added in Bavaria in the south, and two completed and in trial operation in the capital Berlin and in Hagenow, in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The new hydrogen stations in Bavaria will be integrated into existing Shell and OMV
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
plants – formerly called Direct FuelCell® – are especially beneficial for urban and suburban locations where land is either expensive or scarce, given the unmatched power density per square foot (or m2) versus utility-scale solar. For example, in New Haven, Connecticut, United Illuminating generates 2.8 MW with the SureSource 3000 fuel cell on a utilityowned 0.25 acre (0.1 ha) parcel of land next to its substation, avoiding the need for and cost of transmission while enhancing the resiliency of energy supply [FCB, August 2014, p6 and December 2015, p4]. Municipalities benefit with clean and quiet power generated locally, and receive property tax revenue from formerly vacant land, while the state receives sales tax. Behind-the-meter SureSource MCFC solutions support industrial processes generating continuous power and heat to ensure the onsite operations of the facility. Another example is at Pfizer’s 160 acre (65 ha) R&D centre in Groton, Connecticut, where the mission-critical infrastructure is supported with two SureSource 3000 fuel cells generating 5.6 MW, increasing resiliency and supporting sustainability objectives [December 2016, p6]. Meanwhile, FuelCell Energy has appointed Jason Few as its new President and CEO, effective 26 August. Few – who joined the FuelCell Energy Board of Directors in November 2018 – will work with the company’s executive leadership team to revitalise and advance the company, including its ongoing efforts to restructure, enhance commercial activity, and improve operational effectiveness [July 2019, p12]. He has more than 30 years’ experience at Fortune 500 companies and privately held technology, telecom, and energy firms. FuelCell Energy: www.fuelcellenergy.com
Bloom Energy Corporation: www.bloomenergy.com
FCE marks 9 million MWH of clean power generation, new CEO
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has reached a significant clean power generation milestone, generating a total of more than 9 million MWh by SureSource™ molten carbonate fuel cell power plants globally since the first commercial installation. The company has also appointed Jason Few as its new President and CEO. FuelCell Energy’s SureSource systems are currently installed and operating on three continents, with many owned by leading utility and industrial companies. These power
September 2019
Bloom Energy powers showcase real estate development in India
U
S-based Bloom Energy is part of a consortium working on a firstof-its-kind commercial real estate development in Bangalore, India that will be powered by clean reliable electricity generated onsite using natural gas. The Whitefield Tower business-hospitality development will feature premium office space, two levels of ‘shoppable entertainment’, a 60-room ‘boutique’ hotel, high-end co-working spaces, shared services for business, and social offerings including media, art and exhibition spaces.
Bloom is partnering with Hong Kong-based real estate developer Atelier Global, and India’s leading natural gas companies GAIL (India) Ltd and Indian Oil Corporation, on what is expected to be an iconic development in Bangalore (officially known as Bengaluru). Atelier plans for 1 MW of power for the development to be provided by Bloom Energy Servers running on natural gas provided by GAIL. In 2016 Bloom Energy partnered with GAIL to transform India’s energy future through the use of innovative technology, signing a Memorandum of Understanding to deploy natural gas-based solid oxide fuel cell technology for power generation [FCB, September 2016, p7]. Bloom Energy was founded and is led by Chairman and CEO KR Sridhar, an entrepreneur originally from India, and employs 300 staff there. The Bloom Energy Server development at Whitefield Tower is the first natural gaspowered SOFC project in India since the launch of the US-India Gas Task Force. The task force was established by Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Dhamendra Pradhan and US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry in April 2018, to support the Indian government’s goal to increase the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix from 6.5% to 15% by 2030. US tech giant Intel has previously deployed Bloom Energy Servers to meet the power needs of its growing Bangalore campus, where a 3.5 MW system integrated with Intel’s ‘smart and green’ building design reduces CO2 emissions while delivering more reliable, higher quality power [see also the Bloom item above]. Bloom Energy: www.bloomenergy.com Atelier Global: www.atelier-global.com GAIL (India) Ltd: www.gailonline.com Indian Oil Corporation: www.iocl.com
FUELING
H2 Mobility adds another four hydrogen stations in Germany
T
he H2 Mobility Deutschland joint venture has announced four more hydrogen refueling stations in Germany, with two added in Bavaria in the south, and two completed and in trial operation in the capital Berlin and in Hagenow, in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The new hydrogen stations in Bavaria will be integrated into existing Shell and OMV
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7