Trading & Risk

Cracks in the Pipe | Pipeline Delay stalls Stargate’s Bloom Energy Fuel Cell Data Center

byAlex Nevokshonoff, Senior Analyst, Enverus Intelligence® | Research (EIR) Contributor

Oracle’s Project Jupiter has hit a serious regulatory roadblock, as the New Mexico State Land Office recently denied a gas pipeline application meant to deliver fuel for the Bloom Energy (BE) fuel cells powering the data center. It’s an additional setback for the site, which still lacks an air permit.

BE has been the darling of behind-the-meter power, promising a time-to-power premium, in some cases as little as 55 days, alongside lower emissions through its combustion-less technology. That hype has translated to a monumental 1,100% Y/Y share price appreciation, as BTM load continues to grow.

The fundamentals remain compelling, but BE must execute on its ~$20B product backlog to justify current valuations. EIR research has flagged that execution risk and customer concentration pose legitimate threats to the company. Oracle currently represents nearly 70% of named backlog (Figure 1), siphoning BE’s success into a single developer and its ability to build projects. This recent delay confirms our concerns: execution, not demand is the real risk to the story and Project Jupiter is the first crack to show.

This blog offers just a glimpse of the powerful analysis Energy Transition Research delivers on the trending themes. Don’t miss the full picture.

Research Highlights:

Fuel cells are older than the light bulb, invented in 1839!

Top Three Takeaways:

1: What regulatory setbacks are Oracle’s Project Jupiter facing in
New Mexico?

Oracle’s Project Jupiter has hit a serious regulatory roadblock after the New Mexico State Land Office denied a gas pipeline application meant to deliver fuel for the Bloom Energy fuel cells powering the data center. The site also still lacks an air permit, making this denial an additional setback in an already delayed permitting process.

2: What has driven Bloom Energy’s 1,100% year-over-year share
price appreciation?

Bloom Energy has become the darling of behind-the-meter power by promising a time-to-power premium, in some cases as little as 55 days, alongside lower emissions through its combustion-less technology. As BTM load continues to grow, the market has rewarded that proposition with a monumental 1,100% year-over-year share price appreciation. The fundamentals remain compelling, but executing on its approximately $20 billion product backlog is what must justify current valuations.

3: Why does execution risk pose the greatest threat to Bloom Energy’s investment story?

EIR research has flagged that execution risk and customer concentration pose legitimate threats to Bloom Energy. Oracle currently represents nearly 70% of named backlog, concentrating BE’s success in a single developer and its ability to build projects. This recent pipeline denial confirms those concerns: execution, not demand, is the real risk to the story, and Project Jupiter is the first crack to show.

About Enverus Intelligence® | Research, Inc. (EIR)

Enverus Intelligence® | Research, Inc. (EIR) is a subsidiary of Enverus that publishes energy-sector research focused on the oil, natural gas, power and renewable industries. EIR publishes reports including asset and company valuations, resource assessments, technical evaluations, and macroeconomic forecasts and helps make intelligent connections for energy industry participants, service companies, and capital providers worldwide. See additional disclosures here.

Picture of Alex Nevokshonoff, Senior Analyst, Enverus Intelligence® | Research (EIR) Contributor

Alex Nevokshonoff, Senior Analyst, Enverus Intelligence® | Research (EIR) Contributor

Alex joined Enverus in April 2022 as a member of the CCUS team before shifting coverage to Low Carbon Fuels with an initial emphasis on hydrogen. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary, which he earned in 2020. Prior to joining Enverus, he completed a 12-month internship and gained two years of post-graduate experience at Canadian Natural Resources Limited, where he worked at their Horizon Oilsands Plant. Alex is based in Enverus' Calgary office.

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