Turning hydrogen or other gas into electricity that powers cars or industrial spaces is becoming increasingly popular with the rise of fuel cells. The expanding fuel cell technology enables hydrogen gas to react with oxygen to produce an electrical current with very limited emissions, and with decarbonization trends ever on the rise, research into different types of fuel cells is as prevalent as ever. IDTechEx’s latest report, Stationary Fuel Cell Markets 2025-2035: Technologies, Players & Forecasts, covers six main types of fuel cells and their uses, with the stationary fuel cell market expected to exceed US$8 billion by 2035.
Leading fuel cell technologies
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are outlined in the report as the two most common fuel cell types due to their notable power and efficiency benefits. PEMFCs are mostly used within the transportation sector for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), as they are quick to power up and are compact, offering versatility and convenience. Their ability to operate with a high electrical efficiency and high power density makes them worthy of taking one of the top spots across the fuel cell categories.
SOFCs are known for their roles in continuously powering applications including industrial power and commercial operations for long periods of time, whilst maintaining high efficiencies. The high temperatures required for them to operate could soon be reduced, according to IDTechEx, with lower-temperature SOFCs currently being developed to maintain cells' health and speed up start-up times.
Phosphoric acid, alkaline, direct methanol, and molten carbonate are the four other major types of stationary fuel cells discussed within the report, used across applications from gas-fired plants, industrial heating, commercial spaces such as supermarkets, data centers, and home heating. IDTechEx’s stationary fuel cell report provides detailed data for specific use cases, forecasts, benefits, and drawbacks for each type.
Global targets for fuel-cell decarbonization
Global policies and regulations for the ever-expanding decarbonization of major technology sectors are setting up the fuel cell market for success, not only in the transport sector but across industrial applications. In Europe, a target to reach 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030 is driving funding, alongside the aim for the deployment of over 2.5 million fuel cells for combined heat and power purposes by 2040. The US is simultaneously striving to achieve complete carbon-pollution-free electricity by 2035, with the incentives of tax credits for hydrogen and fuel cell manufacturers, while China aims to have 50,000 fuel cell vehicles on the road by 2025, demonstrating the global acknowledgment of the need for new decarbonizing technologies.
Achieving carbon-free electricity depends on the gas source used in the fuel-cell process. The highest quality and most favoured input for fuel cells is green hydrogen, produced through renewable-energy-powered electrolysis, making it a sustainable option with a low carbon footprint. However, due to high electricity costs and the low availability of hydrogen, green hydrogen can be difficult to achieve. The infrastructure required to produce and deploy hydrogen is expensive and not always easily installed, and acts as a barrier to fuel cells becoming more widely adopted. Liquified natural gas is an alternative fuel for some fuel cell types but cannot provide the same claims of sustainability due to its need for energy-intensive cooling and re-gassing processes.
The future of fuel-cells
IDTechEx predicts the stationary fuel cell market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 16.7% between now and 2035, with targets in place in countries worldwide to help achieve maximum growth and deployment of fuel cell technology. Despite the hype of low carbon benefits attached to fuel cells, this is only applicable when green hydrogen is used, with other gases producing carbon as a byproduct of their sourcing, or reaction process within the fuel cell.
For more information and the latest research within the sector, visit IDTechEx’s latest report, www.IDTechEx.com/StationaryFC.
For the full portfolio of energy and decarbonization market research available from IDTechEx, please see www.IDTechEx.com/Research/Energy.