Status of fuel cell development in the United States

The U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring a program to develop high-efficiency fuel cell technologies for the production of electric power from natural gas and other methane- or hydrogen-rich fuels, such as landfill gas. If this program is successful, it will result not only in a reduction in national fuel use, but also in a significant reduction in power plant emissions. Fuel cells have been exempt from many permitting requirements. Fuel cell systems are very promising for future electric power generation and are expected to gain worldwide markets. They offer exceptionally high energy conversion efficiency and extremely low environmental emissions. When combined with gas turbines, fuel cell systems promise an electrical conversion efficiency of 70% (based on lower heating value of fuel). As modular units for distributed power generation, fuel cells are expected to be particularly beneficial where their by-product, heat, can be used effectively in co-generation applications. Because fuel cells can be remotely sited, upgrades for substations and transmission lines can be deferred. Advanced fuel cell power systems fueled with natural gas are expected to be commercially available by the turn of the century.