Idaho National Lab and Bloom Energy Produce Hydrogen at Record-Setting Efficiencies
August 09 2022 - 4:15PM
Business Wire
Steam combined with high-temperature
electrolysis paves way for large-scale hydrogen production in the
nuclear industry
Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE) today announced the initial
results of its ongoing demonstration with Idaho National Laboratory
(INL), the nation’s premier center for nuclear energy research and
development. With nearly 500 hours of full load operation completed
at the laboratory, Bloom’s high-temperature electrolyzer is
producing hydrogen more efficiently than other commercially
available electrolyzers, including PEM and alkaline.
Researchers at INL have been conducting a variety of tests on
Bloom Energy’s solid oxide electrolyzer at the Dynamic Energy
Testing and Integration Laboratory, including steam and load
simulations that replicate nuclear power station conditions, an
important step in validating full compatibility with a nuclear
facility. Running at high temperatures and high availability, the
pilot results reveal the Bloom Electrolyzer is producing hydrogen
at 37.7 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen and with 88.5 percent LHV
(Lower Heating Value) to DC. Dynamic testing has also been
conducted and included ramping the system from 100 percent of rated
power to 5 percent in less than 10 minutes without adverse system
impacts.
“The Bloom Electrolyzer is, without a doubt, the most efficient
electrolyzer we have tested to-date at INL,” said John Wagner,
director, Idaho National Labs. “When hydrogen is produced from a
clean, 24/7 source, like nuclear, it can help us address some of
the significant challenges we face around decarbonization. Pairing
the research and development capabilities of a national laboratory
with innovative and forward-thinking organizations like Bloom
Energy is how we make rapidly reducing the costs of clean hydrogen
a reality and a real step toward changing the world’s energy
future.”
Operating continuously and providing high-quality steam input,
nuclear plants are well positioned to utilize electrolyzers to
efficiently produce substantial quantities of clean hydrogen with
minimal disruption to ongoing operations. Global demand for
hydrogen and its emerging applications are projected to increase
tenfold or more by 2050, surpassing the current infrastructure for
producing and delivering hydrogen. As hydrogen usage expands from
traditional industrial uses to the fuel of a clean future, the need
to produce it in larger quantities and from low- and zero-carbon
sources is clear.
Yet one of the primary barriers to scalable and abundant
hydrogen production is cost – up to 80 percent of the cost of
hydrogen production through electrolysis is electricity. Because
the Bloom Electrolyzer operates at high temperatures, it requires
less energy than low-temperature PEM and alkaline electrolyzers to
split water molecules. Producing hydrogen up to 45 percent more
efficiently than PEM and alkaline electrolyzers when combined with
external heat, the Bloom Electrolyzer supports a trajectory for
hydrogen to become economically accessible.
“We are proud to have partnered with Idaho National Laboratory
on this landmark demonstration. By combining our Bloom Electrolyzer
with steam, the laboratory has been able to validate that the DC
electrical efficiency for our electrolyzer is better than any
reported commercial or demonstration unit in the world for hydrogen
production. This is an important milestone as we work to build a
hydrogen economy,” said KR Sridhar, founder, chairman and CEO,
Bloom Energy.
The successful collaboration is an important step toward the
goal of replacing fossil-derived fuels with clean hydrogen in
commercial and industrial applications. Responsible for more than
one-third of the world’s energy consumption and a quarter of global
CO2 emissions, industrial companies are particularly well-suited
for low-cost, large-scale hydrogen utilization given their
substantial energy requirements and growing commitments to produce
low-emissions commodities and fuels.
For more information about Bloom Energy’s solid oxide
electrolyzer and the company’s commitment to a zero-carbon future,
visit: www.bloomenergy.com/bloomelectrolyzer.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements generally relate to future events or our future
financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify
forward-looking statements because they contain words such as
“anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,”
“may,” “should,” “will” and “would” or the negative of these words
or similar terms or expressions that concern Bloom’s expectations,
strategy, priorities, plans or intentions. These forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, Bloom’s expectations
regarding the global demand for hydrogen, the economic feasibility
of hydrogen, the use of nuclear facilities in the production of
hydrogen, the efficiency of its electrolyzer and the cost of
hydrogen produced therefrom at commercial production. More
information on potential risks and uncertainties that may impact
Bloom’s business are set forth in Bloom’s periodic reports filed
with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2022,
and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2022, as well as subsequent
reports filed with or furnished to the SEC from time to time. Bloom
assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update
any such forward-looking statements.
About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of
Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for
nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research
in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security,
science and the environment. For more information, visit
www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Twitter, Facebook,
Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Bloom Energy
Bloom Energy empowers businesses and communities to responsibly
take charge of their energy. The company’s leading solid oxide
platform for distributed generation of electricity and hydrogen is
changing the future of energy. Fortune 100 companies around the
world turn to Bloom Energy as a trusted partner to deliver lower
carbon energy today and a net-zero future. For more information,
visit www.bloomenergy.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220809006052/en/
Bloom Energy Media Contact: Jennifer Duffourg 480.341.5464
jennifer.duffourg@bloomenergy.com
Bloom Energy Investor Relations: Ed Vallejo 267.370.9717
Edward.Vallejo@bloomenergy.com
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