This book reviews the state-of-the-art in fuel cells (low and high temperature) across all the types applied in the field today and assesses current trends in development.

Innovation, Markets and Sustainable Energy is the first attempt to explore fuel cells and hydrogen technologies by embracing a solid theoretical perspective in the field of innovation and management. Adopting a cross-sectional and international perspective, the book analyzes the implications of introducing fuel cells into the industrial system and explores the complexity of market development for new technological solutions. This book presents an in-depth study of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry and markets, concentrating on the disruptive nature of these technologies. It examines the value chain structure and the strategies of relevant industry players, the alliances and inter-organizational learning processes, the development of new markets, and venture capital dynamics. It also provides an overview of the policies that support hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in major countries around the world. Academics focussing on innovation management, strategy, sustainability, and energy and environmental management will warmly welcome this timely book. It will also be of great interest for the fuel cell and hydrogen practitioner community at large and in particular policymakers.

This book reviews the state-of-the-art in fuel cells (low and high temperature) across all the types applied in the field today and assesses current trends in development. The main technology problems are discussed and current gaps to market success identified. The innovations covered in the book deliver new answers to pertinent problems and/or offer new opportunities, be it in operating conditions, application area, extension of lifetime, new fuels, exciting new diagnosis and analysis methods. The volume gives an insight not only to the key developments within the next few years, but also shows perspectives in the mid-term. Readers receive an overview of cutting edge, challenging research and development that can be used in future developments, both of personal careers, as well as in company technology planning.

This report reviews efforts under way in a number of OECD countries to advance innovation in energy technology, with a particular focus on hydrogen fuel cells.

Due to their environmental and efficiency characteristics fuel cells are promising technological solutions for many energy related applications (stationary power generation, vehicle propulsion, portable equipment). This book describes the economic dynamics of fuel cells by analyzing their diffusion perspectives as well as the strategic and organisational arrangements designed to promote their development. The costs, risks and economic stakes of fuel cell technologies require both a sustained involvement from public entities and the setting up of innovation networks with a large variety of heterogeneous actors. This context corresponds to a new space for technological competition located at the intersection between firms, networks and national/regional systems of innovation. The book presents a comprehensive analysis of this cooperation/competition phenomenon through different theoretical and empirical investigations.

High temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology is a promising power generation option that features high electrical efficiency and low emissions of environmentally polluting gases such as CO2, NOox and SOx. It is ideal for distributed stationary power generation applications where both high-efficiency electricity and high-quality heat are in strong demand. For the past few decades, SOFC technology has attracted intense worldwide R&D effort and, along with polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology, has undergone extensive commercialization development.This book presents a systematic and in-depth narrative of the technology from the perspective of fundamentals, providing comprehensive theoretical analysis and innovative characterization techniques for SOFC technology. The book initially deals with the basics and development of SOFC technology from cell materials to fundamental thermodynamics, electronic properties of solids and charged particle transport. This coverage is extended with a thorough analysis of such operational features as current flow and energy balance, and on to voltage losses and electrical efficiency. Furthermore, the book also covers the important issues of fuel cell stability and durability with chapters on performance characterization, fuel processing, and electrode poisoning. Finally, the book provides a comprehensive review for SOFC materials and fabrication techniques. A series of useful scientific appendices rounds off the book.Solid oxide fuel cell technology is a standard reference for all those researching this important field as well as those working in the power industry. - Provides a comprehensive review of solid oxide fuel cells from history and design to chemistry and materials development - Presents analysis of operational features including current flow, energy balance, voltage losses and electrical efficiency - Explores fuel cell stability and durability with specific chapters examining performance characterization, fuel processing and electrode poisoning

Fuel Cells: Technologies for Fuel Processing provides an overview of the most important aspects of fuel reforming to the generally interested reader, researcher, technologist, teacher, student, or engineer. The topics covered include all aspects of fuel reforming: fundamental chemistry, different modes of reforming, catalysts, catalyst deactivation, fuel desulfurization, reaction engineering, novel reforming concepts, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer issues, system design, and recent research and development. While no attempt is made to describe the fuel cell itself, there is sufficient description of the fuel cell to show how it affects the fuel reformer. By focusing on the fundamentals, this book aims to be a source of information now and in the future. By avoiding time-sensitive information/analysis (e.g., economics) it serves as a single source of information for scientists and engineers in fuel processing technology. The material is presented in such a way that this book will serve as a reference for graduate level courses, fuel cell developers, and fuel cell researchers. - Chapters written by experts in each area - Extensive bibliography supporting each chapter - Detailed index - Up-to-date diagrams and full colour illustrations

Fuel Cells have become a potentially highly efficient sustainable source of energy and electricity for an ever-demanding power hungry world. The two main types of fuel cells ripe for commercialisation are the high temperature solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and the low temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEM). The commercial uses of which include, but are not limited to, military, stand-by power, commercial and industrial, and remoter power. However, all aspects of the electricity market are being considered. This book has brought together a team of world-renowned experts in all aspects of fuel cell development for both SOFC and PEM in a workshop environment. The workshop held between June 6–10, 2004 was held in the capital city of the Ukraine, Kiev. The reason for the venue was that Ukraine is the third largest resource of zircon sands, a major source of material for the solid oxide fuel cell. Ukraine is looking at undertaking a very large effort in the solid oxide fuel cell arena, and hopes, one day, to be an international player in this market, and this book is an outcome from the workshop. The book focuses on the issues related to fuel cells, particularly the state-of-the-art internationally, the issues that were of particular interest for getting fuel cells fully commercialized, and advances in fuel cell materials and technology. The focus was on all types of fuel cells, but the emphasis was particularly on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), due to their importance to the host country. The book is an essential reference to researchers, academics and industrialists interested in up-to-date information on SOFC and PEM development.

The purpose of the project described in this report is to identify and document the commercial and emerging (projected to be commercialized within the next 3 years) hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and products that resulted from Department of Energy support through the Fuel Cell Technologies (FCT) Program in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) undertook two efforts simultaneously to accomplish this project. The first effort was a patent search and analysis to identify patents related to hydrogen and fuel cells that are associated with FCT-funded projects (or projects conducted by DOE-EERE predecessor programs) and to ascertain the patents' current status, as well as any commercial products that may have used the technology documented in the patent. The second effort was a series of interviews with current and past FCT personnel, a review of relevant program annual reports, and an examination of grants made under the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs that are related to hydrogen and fuel cells.