Bloom Energy announced an AlwaysON Microgrid solution with shorter-term, no money down financing.
Bloom Energy’s main manufacturing site is in Newark.
The program cuts contract terms for Bloom fuel cell systems from 15-years down to as few as five years.
Bloom noted that thousands of electric utility customers have been left without power for days at a time this summer as heatwaves, storms and wildfire risks have led to extended power outages in California, New York and elsewhere.
In California, utilities have warned that power could be off for days at a time after powerlines have been suspected of setting off wildfires.
At the same time, 79 U.S. utilities filed requests to increase electricity rates during 2018, the largest number since 1983. In addition, electricity prices rise sharply during peak periods, with some commercial customers using back-up power from diesel generators.
Bloom said microgrids helped customers withstand more than 550 grid outages during 2018.
The solution utilizes natural gas or directed biogas supplied through existing underground pipeline systems.
“As the number, severity and duration of climate-related power outages escalates, customers must act to protect their businesses,” said KR Sridhar, CEO of Bloom Energy. “The Bloom Energy Server can uniquely help them reduce greenhouse gases and secure cost-effective, long-term resilient power in one unified platform.”
Bloom Energy indicating the new program will offer energy-as-a-service solutions with terms as short as five years, with no money down.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (US EIA) reported that a July heatwave drove the highest electricity demand in nearly two years from the Midwest to the Atlantic coast. Tens of thousands of electric utility customers lost power for extended periods as a result.2
In California, utilities have notified customers they may be without power for up to 10 days this summer as a result of efforts to mitigate the risk of wildfires during periods of high wind.
