Will Bloom Boxes be our new green energy source? I say no.

The web and social networks are buzzing today with hype over the Bloom Box. Some say it will solve our nation’s energy crisis and provide green energy to all US homes.  Can these boxes live up to the hype?  I see a few problems.

First, if you don’t know what a bloom box is, here is a segment on them from 60 Minutes.

Ok, now that you know what a Bloom Box is, do you think it will solve all of our problems?

The Bloom Box is essentially a reverse fuel cell.  Fuel cells, which often are reversible, can either use electricity to split water into pure oxygen and hydrogen, or work in reverse to combine oxygen (usually just from the air) and hydrogen (usually in pure form) to generate electricity (and water).  Where the Bloom Box differs is that it is able to use nearly any fuel that is high in hydrogen, including fossil fuels, natural gas, or biofuels.

Sounds great, right? The problem is that these boxes need fuel to run. And while some can and will opt to use cleaner biofuels, most people and companies will opt for cheap fossil fuels. So, how much cleaner will these be? Cleaner than coal, for sure, but we need clean, renewable energy, not another carbon-based or hydrogen based system.

Call me cynical. Call me a skeptic. But I am more likely to buy a solar array and a wind turbine at the moment, thanks.

Related posts:

1. A 3-D look at the recent retreat on the Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru
2. On Earth and Mars, when CO2 levels were higher, less energy escaped
3. Future climate warming depends on you!
4. Climate Change 101