The future of energy: a small black box that can literally be held in one hand? The designer of this newfangled technology claims that one of these sitting in your backyard can produce all of your family's electricity needs — well, two, if you are talking about a typical American household. Sixty-four of these grouped together can power a Starbucks coffee shop. But there is no combustion. And it doesn't need to be connected to the grid at all — distributed energy generation at its finest. In fact, they want to replace the grid entirely with this technology. It is generating a huge buzz: veritably the bee's knees of the energy world right now. It is The Bloom Box.
But how does it work? Each small box is made up of lots of ceramic plates and metal alloy plates stacked on top of each other (akin to a stack of floppy disks) — a bunch of solid-oxide fuel cells. Natural gas, for example, and oxygen are fed into the box, and electricity comes out. But remember, no combustion. Instead the energy is derived from an oxidation reaction.
Cool stuff, right? And all our energy problems will just disappear? Poof! Well, let's slow down for just one second. So, will it solve all our energy problems? What about the already occurring crises caused by global climate change — will it reverse these? And energy security issues — will it solve all those? How about the fact that our world's population and average rate of consumption continue to grow with no end in sight? Will we be able to provide energy to all these people, in the amounts they need? What about powering transportation, or making plastics or fertilizers and pesticides, all of which still require combustion of fossil fuels?
I'm not trying to totally depress you; I'm just trying to make a point. Don't get me wrong: These new technological developments are great. I, as much as anyone, would be ecstatic to see the Bloom Box make it and become a household name. But this one advancement in technology will not be some miracle savior that will solve all our energy problems. There is no such thing … And I don't think there ever will be. Solar energy, wind power, geothermal — none of them alone will ever provide us with all of our needs. Simply reducing consumption and population will not solve our problems. Instead, we need to do all of these things in combination. New technologies and other distributive generation ideas? Alright! Scaling up renewable energies like solar energy, or the Bloom Box? Sure thing. Family planning and educating women? Sounds great. Redesigning cities to be more livable and energy-efficient? Keep it coming.
If you want to learn about any of these things —renewable energy, up-and-coming energy technologies, building cities efficiently and more — come to the Tufts Energy Conference this Friday and Saturday (April 16 and 17). It will explore how we can adapt our energy system to the challenges of today: a formidable challenge. Come talk with leading energy experts, network with faculty and professionals and see what your fellow students think. Registration is $5 for Tufts students, and you can register online at TuftsEnergyConference.com. If you want to see what energy research Tufts students are doing, check out the Tufts Energy Showcase in Cabot Intercultural Center at 6 p.m. on Friday (free for Tufts students). I hear there will be a hybrid racing car. And who knows? Maybe one of our own student research groups will develop the next Bloom Box.
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Paige Colton is a sophomore majoring in International Relations and environmental studies. She is the marketing director of the Tufts Energy Conference.
