Bloom Energy, Conrad Energy, and Electricity North West have announced a partnership to design, build, and operate behind-the-meter (BtM) projects to bring Bloom Energy’s solid oxide power generating technology to the UK market. Orders will likely begin in December 2021.
Bloom’s fuel-flexible, non-combustion Energy Servers use ambient air, biogas, hydrogen, or natural gas to generate electricity in a high-efficiency electrochemical process that avoids burning. As a consequence, carbon emissions, air pollutants, and water use are reduced. When hydrogen or biogas is utilized as a fuel, the Energy Servers provide on-site, zero-carbon energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week – all in a simple, modular, and flexible design.
Hydrogen is well-suited for a variety of uses and can help hard-to-decarbonize heavy industries achieve net-zero emissions. As hydrogen production infrastructure matures with the assistance of strong UK government objectives, industrial players in the UK will be able to switch to a green energy source. The partnership lays a solid platform for the UK to meet its net-zero carbon emissions targets by 2050, including a hydrogen plan that seeks to build five gigawatts of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030.
Bloom Energy aims to deliver its Energy Servers as well as local support as part of the agreement. Conrad Energy, a UK-based energy asset owner, operator, and optimizer with a strong focus on BtM energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, will be the project’s major financier and primary energy provider. Electrical North West (Construction and Maintenance) Ltd, a private electricity network asset service provider with over 1,000 commercial and industrial clients in its maintenance portfolio, will lead the installation and offer the BtM solution to its customers.
Bloom’s Energy Servers, which are fully funded by Conrad Energy, provide extra value to clients in terms of energy savings and the capacity to support microgrid topologies, assuring mission essential load continuity with continuous inverter-based power. Customers will be able to purchase the technology through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which eliminates upfront capital expenditures while ensuring cost predictability over the course of the contract.
“Bloom Energy’s technology is clearly capable of assisting the United Kingdom in achieving its 2050 net-zero carbon ambitions,” said Tim Schweikert, Bloom Energy’s senior managing director of international business development. “Through our partnership with Conrad Energy and Electricity North West Construction and Maintenance, we are happy to join the UK market, where we can assist the region’s quest of clean, dependable, and cheap energy solutions.”
“Having the ability to provide Bloom Energy’s extremely innovative fuel cell technology is a tremendous opportunity for ENWCML and our clients,” said Jim Hallas, ENWCML’s customer solutions director. “While preparing for the hydrogen economy, we aim to be a UK leader in the fight to decrease carbon emissions and assist our customers in achieving energy cost security. This technological solution does all three in one go.”
Conrad Energy’s development director, Chris Shears, stated, “This cooperation is very exciting for Conrad Energy as we continue our strong expansion into new technologies that deliver future proof solutions to our clients.” “We believe that fuel cells’ dependable electricity will play a critical role in lowering pollution and energy prices.”
