Fuel Cells for Portable Power Applications

"Batteries"

07/15/2009

Applications: Micro, Macro, Portable, APU, Stationary, and Transportation


Pike Research
Clean Energy Update


Fuel CellConsiderable pent-up demand exists for off-grid portable power generation solutions that are environmentally friendly and non-toxic. Fuel cells have the unique ability to overcome the weaknesses of incumbent technologies, or provide a solution not achievable by present technologies. Fuel cells are extremely energy efficient and provide significant longer runtimes than batteries, with power being provided either directly, or in hybrid fashion, such as recharging a battery or being combined with a solar module.

Yet the commercialization of fuel cells has repeatedly been delayed, as the technology seeks a viable market. Respecting the challenges unique to the industry, a Pike Company report conducts a thorough examination of technology trends and provides deep tactical analysis of markets and applications, concluding that fuel cell adoption will not be driven by a single killer application, but instead multiple niche applications will drive the industry, as global demand increases for clean, reliable power. A central thesis of this report is that these applications will be determined mainly by power level capacity.