Applications with proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for a deregulated market place

This paper considers the applications of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), in particular for premium power applications, commercial distributed power plants, and for users of secure power supplies. The criteria considered is separated into broad categories namely, key features, electrical and system aspects, economics and emissions, and costs. PEMFC will, in the near future, be used in the automotive industry and also in distributed power supply. Due to its dynamic characteristics, PEMFC can be used as an emergency generating set for customers, who have special requirements for their critical equipment in case of power interruptions, harmonics etc. in the public electricity supply. This, however, requires the fulfilment of very detailed specifications concerning the grid connections. The bridging time is defined by the size of the hydrogen storage. The quality problems of normal electricity experienced by commercial and small industrial users have an impact on applications, which provide high quality. Reliable electricity is becoming increasingly popular. The use of this technology in housing areas for electricity and heat generation will be possible in the future, when the costs of production have been greatly reduced. General introduction to the market at a large scale is dependent on reasonable costs, and the chances for cost digression of PEMFC are higher through the use in various market sectors. ALSTOM BALLARD GmbH has started the first 200 kW fuel cell power plant in Berlin, and with the second unit in Basel, which will be fuelled by natural gas and is used as a combined heat and power plant