New York, January 15, 2026, 13:34 EST — Market open for regular trading.
Shares of Bloom Energy Corp surged almost 8% on Thursday, hitting a new intraday peak during afternoon trading. The fuel-cell manufacturer last traded up 8.0% at $144.11.
The shift came as investors zeroed in on firms tied to the growing electricity demand, particularly from data centers. Tristan Abbey, Administrator of the U.S. Energy Information Administration, noted that electricity consumption “rises through 2027, driven largely by increasing demand from large computing facilities, including data centers.” (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
Bloom sells solid oxide fuel cells—devices that produce electricity via an electrochemical process—and targets them for on-site power in locations where grid improvements might take years. This angle has tied the company to the data-center expansion story, even on days without fresh company announcements.
A Reuters column this week highlighted that U.S. utilities are set to boost electricity generation by 3% in 2025, outpacing much of Europe. The increase is driven in part by growing demand from data centers and AI workloads. (Reuters)
The broader market edged up. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF climbed roughly 0.6%, and the Invesco QQQ Trust added around 1.0%. The iShares Global Clean Energy ETF outpaced both, rising about 1.6%.
Bloom’s shift caught attention amid its fuel-cell rivals. Plug Power dropped roughly 1.7%, FuelCell Energy edged down close to 0.9%, and Ballard Power lost about 1.6%.
Bloom’s recent surge stems from American Electric Power’s announcement last week that its unit will purchase a large share of its option for Bloom’s solid oxide fuel cells in a deal valued at roughly $2.65 billion. AEP said the 20-year offtake agreement, tied to a planned facility near Cheyenne, Wyoming, hinges on conditions it expects to clear by Q2 2026. The company also noted it would receive financial compensation if those conditions aren’t met. (Reuters)
Evercore ISI analyst Nicholas Amicucci described the AEP deal as a “major positive,” Barron’s reported, highlighting that it provides clearer visibility on volume than investors had before. (Barron’s)
But the flip side is timing. Big projects often run late, and any hold-ups in customer buildouts or issues with grid access and permits could delay deliveries and payment flows for suppliers such as Bloom.
Investors will get their next look at the demand picture when the EIA releases its Short-Term Energy Outlook on February 10. This update will include fresh forecasts on U.S. energy consumption and how quickly demand is growing, especially from heavy computing operations.
