The focus on major improvements in energy-efficient solutions

3 The focus on major improvements in energy-efficient solutions 

Minimum time needed for R D Point in time to have substantial impact 

In general, to be selected for further R D efforts, a technological field has to meet the following selection criteria (Jochem et al., 2006)  

Beside these selection criteria, the analysis used evaluation criteria to cover quantifiable and non-quantifiable aspects  

These selection and evaluation criteria were applied systematically to four technological fields, three of which contribute to new energy-efficient solutions. Passive houses, for example, with their major components of insulation solutions, window systems, ventilation and control techniques are close to market diffusion within the next ten years. Fuel cells for mobile uses in vehicles, however, are still a long way from market introduction, for instance, because of unresolved problems regarding the deactivation of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and the need for cost reductions by about one order of magnitude. Other types of fuel cells for stationary uses may be closer to market introduction, owing to less severe technical bottlenecks and better economic competitiveness. 

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