By Nancy Chuda founder and Editor-In-Chief of LuxEcoLiving and co-founder of Healthy Child Healthy World
New York January 12, 2016
We first reported in 2010 on the fuel cell technology created by Bloom Energy Founder and CEO, inventor and NASA rocket scientist, K. R. Sridhar, who invented a new fuel cell that pumps oxygen into the Bloom Box along with fuel (oil, natural gas, biofuel, solar, carbon-neutral landfill fuel, etc.) that combine to produce electricity.
A huge environmental savings in terms of impact but at what costs?
Electric power combined with other sources still poses risks in lieu of a more dangerous possibility. Last year, The New York Times reported terrorists or a hostile foreign state could take down the American power grid either by a cyber-attack or by an electromagnetic pulse attack. Could these attacks focused on a larger source like the grid also target smaller but more influential financial centers like Morgan Stanley's global base of operations?
Based on Ted Koppel's book,"Lights Out: A Cyber-attack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath," one of America's most experienced and best-known journalists, attempted to show readers why the danger is real.
Power plants and factories are increasingly at risk by employing industrial control systems that are vulnerable to hacks. The Department of Homeland and Security's Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) issued this particular warning after increase in cyber-attacks occurred the past year.
Industrial control systems are computers that control processes in the industry that includes food manufacturing facilities, steel mills and energy plants. Being connected to the Internet makes them more exposed to cyber-attacks and this is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to energy plants.
, who runs the Department of Homeland Security's Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team.
The U.S. electric grid is 99.97% reliable, yet that 0.03% of unreliability is both troublesome and costly. In fact, the
U.S. Department of Energy(DOE) reports that grid power outages and power quality issues cost American businesses on average over $100 billion each year. The threat of a cyber attack against critical infrastructure has emerged as yet another challenge to grid security in recent years, potentially impacting the information technology (IT) systems and networks used within the electric utility and delivery infrastructure, such as power lines, electricity control systems, and customer meters. A July 2012 Government Accountability (GAO)report examined the growth of these threats to the electric power industry and states that this is one of the nation's high risk vulnerabilities.
Morgan Stanley announced that Bloom Energy will install a fuel cell system at the Firm's global headquarters in New York City's Times Square neighborhood
Fuel cell systems, whether grid tied or grid independent provide premium power without voltage sags, surges, and frequency variations that can impact computer systems. In addition to power, byproduct heat from a fuel cell can be used at the end user facility for space heating, water heating, and chilling. When supplementing grid power, fuel cells reduce peak demand and lower energy bills. In some areas, fuel cell power is even cheaper than grid electricity. Power purchase agreements, offered by many of the major fuel cell companies, can lock in the cost of fuel cell power for a specified period, generating cost savings over the term of the contract. On top of everything, fuel cells produce little to no polluting emissions making fuel cells the cleanest energy generation technology available today.
Morgan Stanley's second project with Bloom Energy demonstrates how clean energy can be deployed in urban areas like Times Square
The fuel cell project at 1585 Broadway is expected to be fully operational in late 2016 and will provide approximately 750 kW of 24x7 high quality power to the Morgan Stanley building, equal to approximately 6 million kWh of clean electricity each year.
Bloom Energy's solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology converts fuel into electricity through a high efficiency non-combustion process that generates clean and reliable on-site power, reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses compared to traditionally generated and transmitted electricity.
"Morgan Stanley is committed to investing in technologies that minimize our impact on the environment," said Chief Operating Officer Jim Rosenthal. "Following on the success of our fuel cell installation in Purchase, NY, this project further exemplifies how we can improve the sustainability and resiliency of our facilities, while controlling costs and being responsible to our business, our shareholders and our planet."
"The recent Paris Climate Accord calls on government and business leaders to reimagine the way we power the world, and this project in the heart of Manhattan demonstrates how clean distributed energy can be deployed onsite, even in urban areas," said KR Sridhar, principal co-founder and CEO of Bloom Energy. "We applaud Morgan Stanley for their continued commitment to clean energy as well as Governor Cuomo's administration and NYSERDA for their work to drive adoption of clean distributed generation."
"Partnerships between the State and private sector have made New York a global leader in reducing greenhouse gases and advancing clean energy solutions, and will continue to play a vital role in transforming our energy system," said John B. Rhodes, President and CEO of NYSERDA said. "This project is an example of how new and innovative technologies will help us achieve Governor Cuomo's vision of an energy system that is cleaner, more resilient and more affordable for all New Yorkers."
Bloom Energy currently has over 200 projects across the United States and in Japan, including ten operating projects in New York State.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.