Commercialization of stationary fuel cells relate to making units cost competitive. Challenges are low-cost infrastructure, range, and power density. Cost reduction, component integration, complexity reduction, and increasing safety are needed.
Stationary fuel cells have the potential to play a key part in the evolution of the campus energy marketplace. Systems generate lower emissions and less carbon dioxide. They are cheaper to run, and more reliable. This was shown by the continued operation of a fuel cell in New York Central Park during the blackout.
Sixty-five large stationary fuel cell systems have been installed in 2003, a noticeable upturn in production numbers. Growth has been steady rather than dramatic. Stationary power remains the biggest fuel cell market in terms of installed capacity. 120 megawatts has been installed worldwide since the 1970s.
Stationary fuel cells, premium power, back-up power are applications most likely to be the first market for continued fuel cell commercialization. The high cost of premium power means that fuel cells are able to compete on cost in this market. These applications require fewer hours of operation over the lifetime of the energy device. Durability is a concern for fuel cells.
Residential stationary fuel cells outlook is more favorable in Japan, where the price of power is very high for residential power. The high cost of building a complete fuel cell system is a deterrent to this market. A utility can spread the infrastructure costs over many customers. An individual customer would not recoup the extra cost in a timely fashion.
Commercially significant markets for fuel cell products and systems are expected to emerge by 2006. The best prospects are expected in electric power generation in both grid-based and distributed power formats.
Residential fuel cell shipments are evolving to a countable level in 2004. They account for 13% of the shipment dollars in 2009. Total stationary fuel cell markets at $154.2 million in 2004 are expected to reach $11.4 billion by 2009.
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