The Bloom Energy Server is a solid oxide fuel cell made by Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California, that uses liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons (such as gasoline, diesel or propane^[1] produced from fossil or bio sources) to generate electricity on the site where it will be used; Bloom Energy representatives assert that it is at least as efficient as a traditional large-scale coal power station.According to the company, a single cell (one 100mm × 100mm metal alloy plate between two ceramic layers) generates 25 watts.

The Bloom Energy Server uses thin white ceramic plates (100mm × 100mm)^[5] which are made from sintered modified zirconia (an oxide derived from common beach sand). Each ceramic plate is coated with a green Nickel oxide -based ink on one side (anode) and another black (probably Lanthanum strontium manganite) ink on the other side (cathode).According to the San Jose Mercury News, "Bloom's secret technology apparently lies in the proprietary green ink that acts as the anode and the black ink that acts as the cathode--" but in fact these materials are widely known in the field of solid oxide fuel cells. Wired reports that the secret ingredient may be yttria-stabilized zirconia based upon a 2006 patent filing (7,572,530) that was granted to Bloom in 2009; but this material is also one of the most common elecrolyte materials in the field^] To save money, the Bloom Energy Server uses inexpensive metal alloy plates for electric conductance between the two ceramic fast ion conductor plates. In lower temperature fuel cells, platinum is required at the cathode.The company says that its first 100kW Bloom Energy Servers were shipped to Google in July 2008.^[22] Four such servers were installed at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, who were Bloom Energy's first customer.Another installation is for five boxes to make up to 500 kW at eBay headquarters in San Jose, California.^[Bloom Energy states that their customers include Staples (300 kW - December 2008), Walmart (800kW - January 2010),FedEx (500 kW), The Coca-Cola Company (500kw) and Bank of America (500kw). Each of these installations (current or planned) is located in California. Most use either biogas or solar energy inputs