5.089

Running the risk of sounding like a commercial, fuel cell systems “integrated with hydrogen production and storage provide fuel for vehicles, energy for heating and cooling, and electricity to power buildings. Fuel cells are efficient, clean, fuel-flexible energy sources.” And they offer an alternative to fossil fuels. They have the potential to replace the internal-combustion engine as well as provide power in stationary and portable power operations. The U.S. Department of Energy is currently collaborating with various corporations, universities, and industries to develop reliable, low-cost, high-performance fuel cell system components.

Coming soon … fuel cells that will capably power not just our vehicles, homes and offices, but also our commonly used devices such as our laptops and appliances.

Fuel cell systems have proved to be extremely efficient. For instance, when heat production is combined with power generation, efficiencies can exceed 80%. Additionally, although fuel cell systems are not primarily intended to generate heat, the large amounts of heat expended by some types of fuel cell systems can be used to produce steam or hot water that, with the use of turbines, may be converted to electricity.

Are you asking, if this technology is so good, clean, and efficient, then where is it? What’s the hold up? Why isn’t the government moving faster to make it accessible to all of us?

Money! And reliability. But mostly, it’s the cost. It’s close, but not ready yet.

Commercialized availability of fuel cells, especially in transportation applications, remains an expensive proposition – for the consumer as well as for the manufacturer. Another major challenge is making fuel cells durable enough to at least match, as well as be more efficient, and safe for public use.

R&D barriers vary depending on the particular application. Transportation applications must at least meet reliability and durability standards of current automotive combustion engines. The size and weight of current fuel cell systems must also be reduced to fit into engine compartments. Air, thermal, and water management are also issues since the small difference between the operating and ambient temperatures necessitates large heat exchangers. Aside from transportation needs, technology that enables cooling from the low heat rejected from stationary fuel cell systems must be tested and perfected.



Jason Grace
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany

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