Fuel cells

Fuel cell technology has been developing for several decades, and practical commercial products have been made available. A typical Fuel Cell is an electrochemical device that converts pure hydrogen (or a hydrogen rich gas derived from hydrocarbons such as natural gas, gasoline or methanol) into electrical energy and heat. Various energy producing technologies include the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), the phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC), the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), the molten carbide fuel cell (MOFC) and others.

The technology is broad and includes a wide variety of applications including alternative electrical and heating sources for residential/commercial use, recreational vehicle power sources, renewable power sources for cell phones and other electronic equipment, alternative power sources for automobiles and industrial trucks, and backup voltage sources for uninterruptible power supplies for critical computer and telephone applications. Additionally, fuel cells are beginning to be used by the utility companies as a source of supplemental power during periods of peak demand.