The News Journal reports Bloom Energy is starting to manufacture fuel cells at its plant in Newark.
Bloom Energy is starting to manufacture fuel cells at its plant in Newark.
The News Journal reported the plant is not completed but has been cleared to begin production of the fuel cells, which have been delivered to a Delmarva Power site in New Castle County. The report said the plant employs 50, with the total job count expected to go into the hundreds when the site goes into full production.
The early production is geared to the requirement that Bloom fuel cells used at Delmarva Power sites be built in Delaware. The Indeed.com job board lists 15 professional-technical openings for the plant. Hiring has been under way during much of the year.
The Bloom site is on the STAR campus of the University of Delaware campus at the former site of the Chrysler plant.
The fuel cells are powered by natural gas, with the electricity going into the electrical grid and helping Delmarva meet alternative energy standards.
The amount of power produced by the Bloom cells is slated to rise in coming months from 9.2 megawatts in June to 15.3 megawatts in August as more units built in Newark go online. With the final rollout of Bloom fuel cells at Delmarva substation sites, the systems will produce 30 megawatts of power. Bloom says the servers will decrease carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 50 percent compared to Delaware’s electric grid, nearly eliminate smog-forming particulate emissions and use less than 0.002% of the water required by conventional electricity generation.
Critics continue to see the Bloom project as a boondoggle, with some claiming the project would go the way of the Fisker Automotive project at the former GM Boxwood plant. Fisker, which had planned to build hybrid vehicles at the plant, essentially halted all activity after problems with a battery-maker, quality issues and funding.
Delmarva Power customers pay an estimated $1.30 a month extra for the energy from the Bloom cells, with critics claiming that figure will go up as more fuel cells go into operation in northern Delaware. The Caesar Rodney Institute was part of an effort to stop the Bloom deal claiming the state did not consider other possible bidders in providing financial assistance that brought the California company to Delaware. Critics also claim the high cost of electricity in the state is driving jobs away.
According to the story, State Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, has joined conservative critics, claiming that Delmarva should not pass added costs of the fuel cells to customers since employment goals are not close to being met. Delmarva has praised the Bloom cells for their reliability, a plus in dealing with the ups and downs of demand.
Kowalko is a long-time critic of Delmarva Power, which is currently seeking a power delivery rate increase. Kowalko has called for increased disclosure of information on charges related to environmental mandates and other areas.
A privately held company that makes few announcements about its activities, Bloom has been low key about its work in Delaware. The company did not respond to a request for comment.
