Fuel Cells for Stationary Power - Global Trends and Technology Developments

SUMMARY

Rising Environmental Concerns Drive Demand for 'Green' Power and thereby, Fuel Cells

The growing concern for environment and fossil fuels has motivated the industry participants to look for various alternate power generation technologies. Out of the many options, leading research institutions and companies are considering fuel cell-based power generation, as the electrochemical conversion of chemical energy to electricity in a fuel cell is a "green process". The elegant emission profile - emitting trace sulfur and nitrogen - makes these technologies an ideal choice for stationary power applications also.

This Technical Insights study covers various stationary power generation technologies such as phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFCs), alkaline fuel cells (AFCs), proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC), and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). It also analyses the drivers and challenges for different technologies, its applications, and the road map for the evolution of technologies. The research service enables companies to align their positioning strategies to benefit from these technologies.

Power Shortage to Encourage Distributed Generation

Factors such as the widening gap between the demand and supply of power and reluctance of power companies to invest in newer power plants because of lack of returns are expected to motivate the distributed power generation.

"Enhancing or building new power plants could also cause power utilities' reserve margins to exceed peak demand," says the analyst of this research service. "This scenario can drive the distributed power generation sector, for which the fuel cell technologies are considered the most appropriate."

Fuel Cell Technology to Gain from the Excess Burden on Transmission Networks

Challenges such as the inability of the present transmission network to handle excess demand, transmission losses, and power quality at the end points will motivate industry participants to consider fuel cell-based power generation technologies.

The domestic requirement of additional electric power is likely to touch 1.7 trillion kilowatt hour (kWh) in 2020. This is three times the requirement during 1980 to 2000. "It will be a significant challenge for any power utility to accommodate such a large incremental load using only its existing transmission and distribution network," notes the analyst.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Executive Summary
  • 1. Overview
    • 1. Research Overview
    • 2. Research Methodology
  • 2. Key Findings
    • 1. Emerging Technologies and Applications
    • 2. Competing Technologies
• 2. Stationary Fuel Cells: Technology and Applications Viewpoint
  • 1. Fuel Cell Technologies for Stationary Power
    • 1. Fuel Cells - Primer
    • 2. Prospective Fuel Cell Technologies In Stationary Power
  • 2. SOFC Technologies
    • 1. Technology Description and Key Players in SOFC
    • 2. Tubular SOFC Technology
    • 3. Metal Supported SOFC Technology
    • 4. Tubular SOFC Technology (FCT)
    • 5. Ceramic Based SOFCs
    • 6. Micro SOFCs
  • 3. MCFC Technologies
    • 1. Technology Description and Key Players in MCFCs
    • 2. Direct Fuel Cell Technology (FCE)
  • 4. PEMFC Technologies
    • 1. Technology Description and Key Players in PEMFCs
    • 2. Hydrogen-based PEM Technology
    • 3. 'Let's Go' PEM Technology
    • 4. A Technology to Potentially Replace VRLA Batteries
    • 5. Modular Cartridge Based PEM Technology
  • 5. AFC Technologies
    • 1. Technology Description and Key Players in AFCs
    • 2. AFCs for Stationary Applications
  • 6. PAFC Technologies
    • 1. Technology Description and Key Players in PAFCs
    • 2. Fossil Fuel-driven PAFC Technology
  • 7. Technology Impact Analysis
    • 1. Applications of Fuel Cells in Stationary Power
    • 2. Technology Roadmap: Fuel Cells for Stationary Power
• 3. Stationary Fuel Cells: Technology Adoption and Commercialization
  • 1. Analysis of Technology Challenges
    • 1. General Technology Challenges
    • 2. Specific Technology Challenges
  • 2. Analysis of Technology Drivers
    • 1. General Technology Drivers
    • 2. Technology Specific Drivers and Key Players
  • 3. Analysis of Competing Technologies
    • 1. Competing Distributed Generation Technologies
    • 2. Drivers and Challenges for Competing Technologies
  • 4. Analysis of Technology Drivers and Restraints
    • 1. Application Drivers
      • a. Need for 'Clean' Power
      • b. Overall Shortage of Power May Drive Distributed Generation
      • c. Excess Burden on Transmission Networks
    • 2. Application Challenges
• 4. Stationary Fuel Cells: Assessment of Research and Development Activity
  • 1. Research in North America
    • 1. Combating Uncertainties in Hybrid SOFC Plants
    • 2. Integrating SOFC and Coal-Derived Syngas Technologies
    • 3. Analyzing Cell/Stack Dynamics
    • 4. Modelling SOFCs Electrical Efficiency
    • 5. Predicting and Quantifying Radiation Heat Transfer in SOFCs
  • 2. Research in Europe
    • 1. LPG Fuel Processors for PEMFCs
  • 2. Developing Intermediate Temperature SOFCs
    • 3. Dynamic Models for Operating SOFC-GT Hybrid Systems
    • 4. Dynamic Models for Grid-Connected Fuel Cell Plants
    • 5. Perovskite Deposits via Plasma Spraying of SOFCs
  • 3. Research in Asia
    • 1. Low Temperature SOFCs Using Biogas
    • 2. Hydrogen Membrane Fuel Cells for Stationary Applications
    • 3. Energy Analysis of Cogeneration Plants
• 5. Key Patents and Contacts
  • 1. Key Patents
    • 1. Patents on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
    • 2. Patents on Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells
    • 3. Patents on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
  • 2. Key Contacts
    • 1. Corporate Contacts
    • 2. University and Institute Contacts
• 6. Frost & Sullivan 2005 Science and Technology Awards
  • 1. Excellence in Technology Award (SOFC)
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
  • 2. Technology Innovation Award (IT-SOFC)
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
  • 3. Technology Leadership Award (PAFC)
    • 1. Award Description
    • 2. Award Recipient
• 7. Critical Reference Tables
  • 1. Decision Support Databases
    • 1. Total Electricity Installed Capacity (1999-2009)
    • 2. Emissions--SO2 (1999-2009)
    • 3. Emissions--CO2 (1999-2009)
    • 4. Number of Restaurants (1999-2009)
    • 5. Number of Universities and Colleges (1999-2009)