Commercialisation of fuel cells has "finally begun"

About 12,000 fuel cells have been shipped during 2007, an increase of 75 per cent, according to the latest figures.

According to Fuel Cell Today's 2008 Industry Review, the fuel cell industry was commercialised during 2007 and current manufacturing capacity is about 100,000 units per annum.

Over the last three years a number of fuel cell products have become commercialised in the luxury end of the market leaving fuel cells expensive as issues of research, development and demonstration (RD&D) still need discussing.

But as manufacturing costs begin to fall reductions in prices are expected too.

According to the review, Government funding for RD&D topped £500 million during 2007 with seven countries making up £400 million of this funding.

For the first time, the review is publishing the forecasts of Fuel Cell Today analysts for the next two years.

The review believes that Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) and Proton Exchange Membranes (PEMs) offer the best commercial opportunities with over 98 per cent comprising of low temperature units.

Dr Kerry-Ann Adamson, Principal Analyst at Fuel Cell Today, said: "Fuel cells are starting the process of becoming a mainstream market technology and although this will not be completed until well after the period under scrutiny in this report, commercialisation has finally begun."

Soucre:
FCT Press release, 30/01/08, 12:00
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/online/news/articles/2008-01/Fuel-Cell-Commercialisation

Order your copy of Fuel Cell Today's 2008 Industry Review from:
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/events/industry-review

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