Fuel cells are also experiencing rapid growth, gaining significant opportunities in the power battery industry. Compared to lithium batteries, fuel cells offer advantages such as high energy conversion efficiency, longer service life, lower maintenance requirements, and continuous high-power supply. However, due to various limitations, the fuel cell industry is still in its early commercialization phase, and it will take time before large-scale applications become widespread.
The development of fuel cells shows a strong momentum. Research and development in this field have brought about a revolutionary change in portable electronic devices, and will also impact centralized power supply systems across the automotive, residential, and social sectors. This technology is expected to transition people from centralized power supply to a new era of decentralized energy solutions. While solar power can replace some energy sources, it is limited by weather conditions, and nuclear energy carries safety concerns. Fuel cells, on the other hand, produce no carbon dioxide emissions, addressing environmental issues caused by thermal power generation and offering a clean, green energy alternative. As key technical challenges are overcome and new technologies are developed and commercialized, fuel cell technology is set for broad and promising growth.
According to data, from 2010 to 2015, global fuel cell shipments totaled approximately 289,900 units, with a compound annual growth rate of 32%. In 2015 alone, shipments reached around 71,500 units, representing a 12.42% increase compared to the previous year.
Fuel cell system shipments from 2010 to 2015 (in thousands of units):
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In terms of system capacity, from 2010 to 2015, the cumulative global fuel cell shipment system capacity reached about 1,110.7 MW, with a compound annual growth rate of 30%. In 2015, the shipment system capacity was approximately 342.7 MW, marking an 84.84% increase. This indicates that as fuel cell technology matures and application areas expand, the single reactor capacity of fuel cells is growing rapidly.
Fuel cell system shipment capacity from 2010 to 2015 (in MW):
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Challenges in fuel cell development
Firstly, high costs remain a major barrier to the industrialization of fuel cells. The fuel cell stack accounts for the largest portion of the cost, followed by hydrogen storage tanks and auxiliary components. For fuel cells to compete with internal combustion engine vehicles in the future, the cost of the fuel cell stack must be significantly reduced, particularly focusing on key components such as platinum catalysts, electrolyte membranes, bipolar plates, hydrogen tanks, and accessories.
Cost factors limiting fuel cell industrialization:
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Secondly, there are multiple types of fuel cells, and one of the primary challenges in developing hydrogen fuel cells is solving the hydrogen supply issue—how to produce hydrogen at a low cost. Traditional methods include hydrogen production from fossil fuels and water electrolysis. With increasing demand for large-scale hydrogen production, other methods like biological hydrogen production, thermochemical hydrogen production, and solar photocatalytic hydrogen production have also gained attention. Initially, decentralized hydrogen production is recommended to reduce costs and improve convenience. However, as fuel cell technology scales up, the cost and environmental benefits of centralized hydrogen production will become more evident.
Thirdly, the main obstacle to the promotion of fuel cell vehicles is the lack of supporting infrastructure, specifically the limited coverage of hydrogen refueling stations. Their high construction costs make building these stations only feasible on a pilot scale. Currently, China has four hydrogen refueling stations, all in demonstration phases without commercial operation. These are far from sufficient to meet the needs of full-scale fuel cell industrialization.
Lastly, there are challenges related to hydrogen storage and safety. Hydrogen is typically stored and transported in three forms: high-pressure gas, liquid, or in hydride form. In the short term, high-pressure gas storage remains the primary method. However, in the long run, materials with higher hydrogen storage capacity, better safety, faster absorption/desorption rates, longer life, and lower cost will be essential. Low-pressure or ambient pressure storage solutions, such as lightweight hydrogen storage materials and organic liquid-based storage systems, are expected to become the focus of future development.
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