Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Fuel Cells UK, which brings together utilities, developers, suppliers and researchers, has launched a manifesto calling on the new Coalition Government to support the burgeoning industry.

The UK is at a crucial point in its transition to a low carbon economy, says the organisation, and should adopt new measures to ensure that the fuel cell and hydrogen sector can play a role.

Fuel cells and hydrogen could revolutionise the country’s energy landscape, says the organisation, providing high-efficiency, low-carbon solutions for transport, residential and portable applications.

The technology has been viewed as a ‘future’ option, but Fuel Cells UK says that commercialisation in early markets is well underway and accelerating rapidly.

The potential is great, says Fuel Cells UK. If 6000 currently available 400 kWe fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) units were installed over the next five years, it would reduce CO₂ emissions by as much as the proposed Severn Barrage at three times lower capital investment costs. And if 5.6 million homes installed microCHP fuel cell systems by 2020, the savings in CO₂ emissions would be equivalent to eight new 750 MW combined cycle gas turbine power stations.

Fuel Cells UK is urging the new Coalition Government to support the sector by extending the feed-in tariff scheme to cover fuels cells and focusing support on the development of near-commercial technologies and demonstration programmes.

The Government need to act promptly, says the organisation, to make the most of the current ‘window of opportunity’.

For further information:
www.fuelcellsuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Fuel-Cells-UK-Manifesto-June-2010.pdf

Related stories:
Toyota preparing the way for an “affordable” hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (11-May)
UK’s largest fuel cell to power Transport for London (22-Feb)
South Wales and M4 corridor to become ‘hydrogen highway’ (15-Feb)
E.ON and Ceramic Fuel Cells join forces on CHP for the UK (2-Feb 2009)