I think you remember "that one" Hindenburg research that blew up Bloom Energy on all fronts in September 2019. It revealed that Bloom is far from being a "holy grail of clean energy", rather, it's like weapon of mass destruction for the environment. Moreover, the report mentioned enormous $2.2B in undisclosed service liabilities.
Bloom Energy immediately denied this and said that they strongly disagree with the research, and the next day, they issued a massive rebuttal to Hindenburg.
Though, BE had already dropped, and Bloom, with its hyped IPO, faced problems with loads of lawsuits, investigations, and so on. They, by the way, decided to settle this for $3M with investors (in my opinion, they just bought their way out).
But the "Hindenburg" vibe is still hanging around, and that report still pops up on the top when you googling Bloom. So, do you still think Bloom still remains the "holy grail", which may help them rise again and maybe absolve all sins in 2025?
by pluckyquantity20
3 comments
they still around?
they’re solid as a backup tool at data centers which also have gas connections, but haven’t made a move otherwise
Fuel cells? Do they have advantages compared to a gas turbine for turning H2 or CH4 into power?
It is very difficult to make a profit manufacturing fuel cells and their maintenance. Fuel cells for continuous operation are the most difficult. Vehicles that operate a few hours to half a day are slightly better. That is the Ballard niche and they sell their technology to China for buses.
There is a possibility that China, which is fully invested in fuel cells in its 5 year plans, may make a breakthrough in the cost and durability of PEM fuel cells. Bloom is SOFC, doubtful many are working on cost reduction or reliability research on them.