Cleantech Update

The following types of fuel cells are commercial viable at this time Alkaline - AFC Phosphoric Acid - PAFC Molten Carbonate - MCFC Polymer Electrode Membrane - PEMFC Solid Oxide - SOFC Direct-Methanol - DMFC * Alkaline - AFC have one of the highest system efficiencies of all fuel cell types. Operating temperature is directly linked to material and manufacturing costs i.e. the lower the operating temperature, the lower the cost of the materials needed to create a working and reliable electrode and system. The fact that Alkaline technology can work perfectly well without the use of precious metals is an insurance against aggressive price hiking in the industry. Alkaline technology is the longest established technology having been invented in 1839. Alkaline technology is the most reliable of all fuel cell technologies having been selected for both the space and submarine applications over other available technologies. Having liquid electrolyte means that we can control the temperature of...

The following excellent article was originally published on 18 November, 2008. By the Institue fur Kraft Fahr Zuge in Aachen, Germany. It is such an accurate and complete summary of my own research that I present it. The only difference I would have is an editors note I added near the bottom. I disagree that this technology is 4 years away from major market penetration. I believe it is imminent. -Editor The Rest Published in the Road2 hy .com . The application of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen technologies to the industrial and commercial markets takes the form of co-generation or tri -generation systems . Systems available today have total powers in the range 100kW to 2-3MW (higher power, modular, systems are possible but have not been installed) and produce electricity, heating and, sometimes, cooling. Most quoted efficiencies are 70-80% overall and 45-50% electrical, suggesting that co-generation using Fuel Cells will yield significant reductions in GHG emissions. In developed countrie...