IDTechEx explores stationary fuel cells

Global energy demands have increased exponentially alongside economic developments and power-intensive technologies over the past decade. With energy consumption having grown by 2% worldwide in 2023, concerns over energy security and grid instability arise, as well as companies wanting to move towards clean and renewable power sources.

Stationary fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity. They work as individual power generation devices, similar to mobile fuel cells, and can be put together to form fuel cell stacks to power high-output systems. The six main types of stationary fuel cells all contain an anode, cathode, and electrolyte and operate through the movement of ions across the cell. Their main purpose is to act as a power supply for continuous operations in large facilities, or as backup power devices in areas with grid instability or limited power access.

Solid oxides to low-temperature PEMFCs

Low, medium, and high temperature types of fuel cells all have varying advantages and drawbacks. Solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells operate between 600 and 650°C. They can internally reform hydrogen carrier fuels, allowing for high fuel flexibility and operating in a combined heat and power mode. These particular types of high temperature fuel cells are mostly used for continuous power operation in industrial settings.

Phosphoric acid and alkaline fuel cells operate at a medium heat of up to 200°C, with their liquid electrolyte materials requiring greater maintenance and coming at a greater cost than alternatives. While phosphoric acid can tolerate lower quality hydrogen and some impurities such as carbon monoxide, alkaline fuel cells are highly sensitive to these impurities.

Temperatures below 100°C are where proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), including direct methanol fuel cells, operate best. The lower temperature requirements allow these types of fuel cells to benefit from quick start-up times and relatively high electrical efficiency. They are also known for their compact designs and resultant ease of transportation and are common within the automotive sector. PEMFCs can quickly respond to changes in power demand with minimal cell degradation, making them a good option for back-up power availability in areas with grid instability.

Hydrogen availability and sourcing fuel

PEMFCs require high purity hydrogen and are highly carbon monoxide (CO) intolerant. CO impurities block the active sites on the fuel cell catalyst surface, preventing electrochemical reactions from taking place and limiting the cell’s efficiency. Green hydrogen would be an ideal option for most stationary fuel cells to increase their sustainability as it is renewable and cleanly sourced, however, this can be difficult and expensive to acquire.

Hydrogen infrastructure is currently limited and costly to install, so fuel flexibility across fuel cell types is an important factor for increasing stationary fuel cell implementation. Solid oxide and molten carbonate fuel cells can operate with natural gas, biogas, and light hydrocarbons, all of which are low cost and readily available, but are not environmentally friendly, as they are non-renewable and produce large amounts of emissions, which goes against desires of companies to make energy processes sustainable.

PEMFCs and solid oxide fuel cells currently appear to be the most favourable within the fuel cell energy market, with their popularity only increasing as pure hydrogen becomes more readily available.

Global demand and IDTechEx’s outlook

The IEA predicts global energy consumption to grow by 3.4% annually until 2026. IDTechEx predicts that the annual demand for stationary fuel cells in the commercial market will surpass 1.9 GW by 2035, with the main applications being in residential, industrial, utilities, commercial, and data sectors. Currently, over 80% of power worldwide is still obtained from fossil fuels, meaning there is lots of opportunity for growth and expansion of sustainable energy sourcing, with large demand and potential for fuel cells.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/23122024/idtechex-explores-stationary-fuel-cells/