Bloom Energy(US:BE) Zhong Guo Neng Yuan Wang·2025-08-18 09:33Core Insights - Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) are gaining attention due to their high efficiency and long lifespan, but their typical operating temperature of 700-800°C requires expensive high-temperature materials, limiting widespread application [1][2] - A research team from Kyushu University in Japan has developed a new type of SOFC that can operate efficiently at a medium temperature of 300°C, which is expected to promote the development of low-cost, low-temperature SOFCs and accelerate their commercialization process [1][2] SOFC Overview - SOFC stands for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, a third-generation fuel cell that efficiently and environmentally friendly converts chemical energy stored in fuel and oxidants into electrical energy at medium to high temperatures [2] - The SOFC system consists of a stack and auxiliary Balance of Plant (BOP) units, with the stack being the core device that directly converts chemical energy into electrical energy [2] - The working principle of SOFC is based on electrochemical processes, typically operating at high temperatures of 650-950°C, using solid oxide ceramics (usually zirconia) as the electrolyte [2] Industry Developments - Bloom Energy, a leading global SOFC company, is making significant progress with multiple SOFC power supply projects, particularly in data center applications, with plans to deploy its fuel cell technology at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) data center in the U.S. by July 2025 [3] - The increasing electricity demand from data centers, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, highlights the urgent need for green energy solutions, with SOFC being a promising option due to its high energy utilization efficiency and broad fuel applicability [4][5] Domestic Market Progress - Domestic SOFC technology has transitioned from laboratory research to engineering demonstration phases, with companies like Weichai Power, Chaozhou Three-Circle, and others pushing multiple projects in distributed generation, combined heat and power, and energy storage [6] - The reversible system (SOFC/SOEC), or Solid Oxide Cell (SOC) system, is becoming a mainstream demonstration due to its high energy conversion efficiency and strong policy support [6] - Relevant companies in this sector include Sanhuan Group, Weichai Power, and others [6]