Stationary fuel cell applications market

For stationary fuel cell applications the durability requirements for fuel cells is more rigorous. By 2005, stationary PEMFCs have been able to undergo 20,000 h of operation however, market requirements wiU demand even greater lifetimes over a broad range of temperatures (-35-40°C). By 2011, U.S. DOE expects to see stationary fuel cells maintain lifetimes up to 40,000 h at a cost less than 750 kW (Borup et al., 2007). 

Technical progress as well as investments in PEMFCs for transportation, stationary, portable, and micro fuel cell applications has been dramatic in recent years. The present view is ophmistic for fuel cell power generation the status is presently at the field trial level, or early commercialization stage, moving into volume commercialization. Although commercially viable, niche PEMFC applicahons exist today, the first commercial mass markets for fuel cells are expected to be for handheld electronic devices, PCs, and other portable devices. 

Adamson, K. (2005). Fuel Cell Today Market Survey Small Stationary Applications. Fuel Cell Today. December. 

As a result, stationary fuel cells are likely to be the initial applications driving commercialization and certain applications within the market since stationary fuel cells have features that lend themselves to early adopters. 

Lastly, it seems appropriate that at this stage fuel cell systems should be developed for large niche markets that are appropriate for the current state technical readiness of the technology. Forklift applications are a prime example of matching requirements versus capability. Large stationary fuel cells that are designed for constant base loads with high combined heat and power utilization requirements is another. 

The Shell studies imply that fuel cell sales will start with stationary applications to businesses that are willing to pay a premium to ensure highly reliable power without utility voltage fluctuations or outages. This demand helps to push fuel cell system costs below 500 per kW, providing the era of transportation which drives costs to 50 per kilowatt. But, can the high-reliability power market really drive transportation fuel cell demand and cost reductions, especially for proton- exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells ... 

Today s rapidly increasing activities on hydrogen focus mostly on vehicle applications and less on stationary applications. For fuel cells, stationary applications are also relevant, but natural gas will be the dominant fuel here. The dominance of the transport sector is also reflected in the hydrogen roadmaps developed, among others, in the EU, the USA, Japan, or at an international level. Whereas in the beginning, onsite or decentralised production options based on fossil fuels or electricity are seen as the major option for hydrogen production, later on central production options will dominate the market. Here, several options could play a role, from coal, with carbon capture and sequestration, through natural gas and renewables (wind, biomass) to nuclear. A C02-free or lean vision can be identified in every roadmap. The cost... 

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