World's Largest, Most Efficient Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Hydrogen Production Demonstrated by Bloom Energy
Bloom Energy, a global leader in solid oxide technology, has successfully built, installed, and operationalized a 4 MW Bloom Electrolyzer™ at NASA's Ames Research Center. This groundbreaking project, completed in just two months, is generating over 2.4 metric tonnes of hydrogen per day – a significant leap in large-scale, clean hydrogen production.
The Bloom Electrolyzer™ demonstrates the maturity, efficiency, and commercial readiness of Bloom's technology. As a key player in the transition towards a decarbonized future, hydrogen will be essential for storing intermittent and curtailed energy and for decarbonizing industrial energy use.
Advantages of Bloom Energy's Solid Oxide Electrolyzer™
Compared to Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolyzers, Bloom Energy’s 4 MW Solid Oxide Electrolyzer™ offers several key advantages.
High Operating Temperature
Bloom's solid oxide technology operates at high temperatures (~800-1000 °C), enabling improved thermodynamic efficiency. This allows part of the input heat to be utilized to reduce electricity consumption for electrolysis, leading to more efficient operation and integration with heat sources.
Fuel Flexibility
Solid oxide electrolyzers can operate on a variety of feedstocks, including hydrogen, natural gas, or biogas. This versatility is crucial for sustainably sourced hydrogen production pathways, contrasting with PEM and alkaline electrolyzers, which primarily require high purity water and electricity.
High Electrical Efficiency
SOECs (Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cells) can reach electrical efficiencies that surpass 60%, often higher when configured for combined heat and power (CHP). This efficiency level is competitive or superior to PEM and alkaline technologies, particularly at scale.
Scalability and Durability
Bloom Energy’s modular stacks of ceramic electrolyte plates are designed for large-scale power levels (multi-megawatt), suitable for industrial and utility applications. While PEM is often favored for rapid start-up and dynamic operation, SOECs display strengths in continuous, high-capacity hydrogen production with potentially lower operating costs due to efficiency gains.
Integrated Heat Utilization
The high operating temperatures create opportunities to integrate waste heat or renewable heat sources to reduce total energy consumption, improving overall system economics and emission profiles in industrial settings.
In summary, Bloom Energy’s 4 MW Solid Oxide Electrolyzer™ leverages high-temperature operation for superior efficiency, fuel flexibility for using various feedstocks, and scalable modular design for large-scale, clean hydrogen production, making it especially attractive for industrial and utility-scale hydrogen generation applications where integration of heat and feedstock flexibility are important factors.
A Step Closer to a Decarbonized Future
The 4 MW demonstration at NASA Ames Research Center showcases the similar energy efficiency of Bloom's large-scale and small-scale electrolyzers, highlighting the strength of its modular architecture. KR Sridhar, Ph.D., Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Bloom Energy, stated that this demonstration is a major milestone for reaching net-zero goals.
The hydrogen demonstration at NASA Moffett Field marks a "full circle moment" for Bloom Energy, as the company traces its roots to work performed as part of NASA's Mars Space Program in the early 2000s. The ongoing project has completed 4500 hours of full load operations with a Bloom Electrolyzer™ producing hydrogen more efficiently than any other process.
The 4 MW Bloom Electrolyzer™ produces 20-25% more hydrogen per megawatt than commercially demonstrated lower temperature electrolyzers. Bloom Energy's high-efficiency, high-temperature solid oxide electrolyzers bring the company one step closer to a decarbonized future powered by low-cost clean hydrogen.
Commercially viable electrolyzers are the key to unlocking the energy storage puzzle, and solid oxide electrolyzers offer inherently superior technology and economic advantages. Media and qualified parties are invited to schedule a visit to see the demonstration at NASA's Ames Research Center from May 15-30, 2023. The link to schedule a visit is: www.bloomenergy.com/bloomelectrolyzer/.
[1] Bloom Energy Corp. (2022). Bloom Electrolyzer. Retrieved from www.bloomenergy.com/bloom-electrolyzer/
[2] U.S. Department of Energy (2021). Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program. Retrieved from www.energy.gov/eere/hydrogen-and-fuel-cells/hydrogen-and-fuel-cells-program
[3] National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2020). Solid Oxide Electrolysis. Retrieved from www.nrel.gov/grid/electrolysis/electrolysis-technologies/solid-oxide-electrolysis.html
[4] International Energy Agency (2021). Hydrogen Technologies. Retrieved from www.iea.org/hydrogen
The 4 MW Solid Oxide Electrolyzer™ from Bloom Energy showcases its efficiency and adaptability, as it operates at high temperatures and can utilize diverse feedstocks, such as hydrogen, natural gas, or biogas. This technology is a significant stride in the transition towards a decarbonized future, where hydrogen will play a pivotal role in storing intermittent energy and decarbonizing industrial energy use.
