Distributed Generation/Fuel Cells: DOE Helps Expand Both Technologies and Markets

The early entry market penetration by ONSI and its phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) technology has proven that fuel cells are reliable and suitable for premium power and other opportunity fuel niche applications. Now, new fuel cell technologies—solid oxide fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, and polymer electrolyte fuel cells—are being developed for early market entry shortly after 2003. Some of the evolving fuel cell systems are incorporating gas turbines in hybrid configurations. The combination of the gas turbine with the fuel cell promises to lower system costs and increase efficiency to enhance market penetration. Significant early entry markets exist to sustain the initially high cost of some distributed generation technologies. However, distributed generation technologies must have low introductory first cost, low installation cost, and high system reliability to be viable options in competitive commercial and industrial markets. In the long-term, solid state fuel cell technology with stack co...