Online bid bazaar eBay has plugged a much-hyped fuel cell technology into its new data center, as the company tries to increase the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of its colossal bit barns. The announcement of the new facility was made by eBay at a press event in Utah on Thursday. The company revealed that …

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Thursday 26th September 2013 19:18 GMT Destroy All Monsters

> in this case natural gas feeding the cells

I hate to say so, but this is a non-renewable getting oxidized to CO_2 to obtain energy.

Is it more efficient than a ~~white-fluffy-cat-stroking evil nuclear reactor~~non-threatening coal plant? I dunno.

Additionally, where those submarine diesels german?

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Thursday 26th September 2013 21:46 GMT Anonymous Coward

Nice article... I think this is great! Did some research and found some very interesting video and links with regards to pairing fuel cell technology with municipal wastewater treatment plants... Impressive in my opinion. Just wanted to share...

"New fuel cell sewage gas station in Orange County, CA may be world's first"

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/orange_county&id=8310315

"It is here today and it is deployable today," said Tom Mutchler of Air Products and Chemicals Inc., a sponsor and developer of the project.

Microsoft Backs Away From Grid

http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2012/11/20/microsoft-backs-away-slowly-from-the-grid/

2.8MW fuel cell using biogas now operating; Largest PPA of its kind in North America

http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/news-events/news-archive/2012/october/28-mw-fuel-cell-using-biogas-now-operating-largest-ppa-of-its-kind-in-north-america

Construction of world's largest fuel cell power plant. (in South Korea? with USA developed fuel cell technology??)

http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/news-events/news-archive/2012/october/construction-of-worlds-largest-fuel-cell-power-plant-expected-to-commence-in-2012

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Thursday 26th September 2013 23:12 GMT JP19

"I think this is great!"

I think we will know Bloom Energy fuel cells are great when smaller organisations start installing them because they make economic sense.

A few huge organisations who can afford to pay for experiments and write off possible failure doesn't mean much.

I suppose for large corporations being able to impress the technically illiterate eco green tosser proportion of their customer base has more value.

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1. Sunday 29th September 2013 03:34 GMT MachDiamond
  
  Re: "I think this is great!"
  
  @jp19
  
  It might be making economic sense to the large companies that can afford a single unit by receiving special tax rebates. A single "unit" might be overkill for many medium sized business with standard operating schedules (ie. 9-5)
  
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Thursday 26th September 2013 23:18 GMT John Smith 19

"Natural* gas can come from many sources.

Sadly there are probably too few staff to make the facility self sustaining for CH4.

But at least it's not using H2.

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