The US state of Ohio has made industry development for the commercialisation of fuel cells a strategic goal with the release of the Ohio Fuel Cell Roadmap.

The five-year strategic guide aims to maximize Ohio companies' involvement in the fuel cell industry, according to Solar Access.com.

Announcing the initiative State development director Bruce Johnson said the roadmap forms part of a ten-year, $1.1 billion state programme entitled the Third Frontier Project which has seen over $30 million invested in fuel cell-related projects over the last two years.

"The next five years are a critical time for the fuel cell industry as it moves from the development stage to the commercialization and application stages," said Mr Johnson.

"By creating a Roadmap with defined strategies that leverage our strengths in manufacturing while also encouraging research and development of new innovations, we are positioning Ohio to take advantage of this burgeoning industry," he added.

Bob Rose, executive director for the US Fuel Cell Council, lauded the Ohio Fuel Cell initiative and said such roadmaps were key to developing a viable fuel cell economy.

Speaking to the same website he said: "There are many avenues within the fuel cell industry that a state can travel down, and understanding which ones hold the most economic feasibility will be critical not only to the industry within that state, but also to the nation."

"Ohio's forward-looking Roadmap illustrates an acute awareness of its existing assets in fuel cell research and commercialization, and shows the State's commitment to cultivating an even stronger fuel cell economy in an already technology-rich location."