February 22, 2010

The Bloom Box: An Energy Breakthrough? - 60 Minutes - CBS News

The Bloom Box: An Energy Breakthrough? - 60 Minutes - CBS News

What to make of the claims for this technology? Can it be cheap? Is it reliable? What is the power output? Will it operate 7x24? Is it temperature sensitive, particularly to cold climates?

I have to say that venture capitalist John Doerr is not a sucker for a dumb scheme. But at least one statement baffles me. The inventor/scientist said that solar energy could be an input to the Bloom Box. I don't follow that. If this technology is basically solid-state fuel cell technology, then a fuel is needed. The examples showed natural gas and landfill gas as fuel inputs. How does solar radiation become a 'fuel.'

My interest is piqued, but so much more information is needed.

TechCrunch's take on it is here.

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