Perspectives for European Fuel Cells and the 5th Framework Programme on RTD

Within the context of current discussions on the EU 5th Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (FPRD), the presentation aimed at informing experts from industry and from the European Commission, as well as members of the European Parliament and members of the European Energy Foundation about the current and future development of fuel cells in the European Union and in a competitive international market.

During his presentation, Mr Markus Nurdin, Managing Director of the World Fuel Cell Council, first spoke about the fuel cell technology as such (cf. “What is a fuel cell”) and emphasised energy efficiency and low pollutant emission aspects (cf.”Fuel cell benefits”).
What is a fuel cell ?

In contrast to conventional combustion technologies, a fuel cell converts fuel electrochemically directly into energy. Hydrogen is combined through a catalytically promoted reaction with oxygen, usually sourced from the air, into water, electricity and heat. The reaction takes place via the medium of an electrolyte.

In fact, the various fuel cell technologies are known by the names of their electrolytes. Hydrogen is presented to an anode, oxygen to a cathode, electrons are separated from the hydrogen atoms at the anode and recombined with hydrogen ions which have passed through an electrolyte to the cathode. The electrons flow through an external circuit to the cathode creating the electric current. Oxygen supplied at the cathode complete the reaction producing water. The reaction is the precise reverse of electrolysis of water where an electric current passed through water breaks down water molecules into their components creating hydrogen a the cathode and oxygen at the anode.

A fuel cell power plant usually consists of three parts:

Firstly a fuel processor – or fuel reformer – which extracts hydrogen from the fuel,

Secondly a stack of fuel cells to which the resultant hydrogen rich gas is fed together with oxygen from the air. The fuel cell stack which consists of a number of individual fuel cells stacked together to provide the power required produces direct current electricity, water and heat.

Thirdly, the direct current electricity is converted into alternating current for the grid by a power conditioner or alternator.

The by-product heat can be used to help to process and to reform the original fuel and to provide hot water to heat buildings, for domestic use, as well as for industrial processes.
Fuel cell benefits

Fuel cells can produce electricity with an efficiency up to 60-65% at full load as well as part load in all range of system sizes. They are versatile and can be used between a few kW to MW and thus be sited wherever electricity is needed even in the most congested urban location.

They can also be used for simultaneous heat/power generation where they can produce heat between 80 and 900°C, depending on the fuel cell type. This makes them suitable for cogeneration both in the building and industrial sector. For applications in the transportation sector, fuel cells are expected to bring about efficiencies which are 2 times higher than with conventional internal combustion engines. The ideal fuel for fuel cells is hydrogen. Nevertheless, like in combustion systems fuel cells can use conventional fossil fuels and methanol. These fuels however have to be converted into hydrogen with reformers or coal gasifiers. The use of gasified biomass or biofuel as well as production of hydrogen through electrolysis with wind and solar energy is also possible. Fuel cell technologies are therefore also a strong vector for increasing the use of renewable energy sources.

The major advantage of fuel cells is their low pollutant emission. If hydrogen is used, only water is formed. In case fossil fuels are used, pollutant emissions in fuel cells are 10 to 100 times lower than in conventional systems, in stationary electricity production and in cogeneration. In transportation, fuel cells, using fuels such as methanol, give a 100 to 1000 times lower pollution than petrol or diesel engines. These environmental benefits, i.e. reduction of noxious and greenhouse gases will allow a sustainable growth of the society, and indirectly improve the quality of citizen life.
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During the ensuing presentation, Mr Nurdin outlined the need to improve Europe’s international market position and stressed that the US will already have fully competitive fuel cell on-site generators and fuel cell buses available by the year 2000.

He therefore insisted on the need to enhance R&D in the field of cost reduction and performance improvement on the one hand, and on practical demonstration of complete fuel cell systems in various real applications on the other hand. The latter with the aim to gain confidence of consumer, producers and users.

Regarding R&D costs, he explained that estimations have shown that an amount of 100 million ECU for fuel cell buses and 200 million ECU for stationary fuel cell power plants will be necessary to meet the above mentioned targets.

With an EU contribution of 50%, i.e. 150 million ECU, demonstration and dissemination of practical fuel cell systems could thus be covered.

This allocation should be added to the existing amount of 85 million ECU for research spending as identified in the “Ten Year Fuel Cell Strategy”.