According to a recent report by Frost & Sullivan, the European Stationary Fuel Cells Market should reach commercialization by the end of the decade and be worth $197 million.
“Fuel cells will play a pivotal role in the European energy industry in the future due to their high electrical efficiencies as well as their environment-friendly profile,” said Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Hema Sarathy. “Threats over the security of fuel supply coupled with increasing concern about air pollution and emission control are strengthening the case in favor of fuel cells as a preferred form of distributed generation technology.”
Fuel cells can have electrical efficiencies between 40 to 49 percent, while their competitors have electrical efficiencies of 30 to 35 percent. Moreover, when in a cogeneration mode, fuel cell systems can reach electrical efficiencies of 80 to 85 percent. That higher efficiency will help combined heat and power (CHP)- based fuel cell systems to boost the expansion of the stationary fuel cell market, the report notes.
Currently, issues concerning the reliability and durability of fuel cells, as well as high capital and operating costs are some of the roadblocks for commercialization, the report mentions.
R&D will be an important factor in helping to eliminate some of those obstacles.
“The stationary fuel cell industry is currently in a demonstration and a product validation stage, where the focus is not only on product development, but also on understanding the requirements of customers in order to enhance the product solution,” adds –. “The industry is looking forward to strategic alliances and partnerships of system manufacturers with utilities and component suppliers to develop a complete fuel cell product portfolio matching customer needs.”
According to the report, new materials, improved manufacturing processes and augmented process capabilities will aid the transition from current use to more of a commercial scale usage.
