Industrial

Stationary power generation represents the first significant market for fuel-cell systems. More than 600 large-scale stationary fuel-cell systems have been installed worldwide.

Stationary fuel-cell systems provide many benefits. First, they provide reliable power. Second, they are modular. Users can add capacity as needed by stringing fuel cells together. Third, they generate heat that can be used for space or water heating, cooling, or even to turn steam turbines to generate additional electricity. This ability to use both the electricity and the waste heat is known as cogeneration. Fourth, stationary fuel cells can use different fuels. And last, fuel cells have proved to be environmentally beneficial compared to traditional power-generation technologies. The first commercially available fuel-cell power plants emitted less than 20 grams of pollutants per MWh, compared to 11,388 grams per MWh for an average U.S. fossil-fueled plant.

Figure 15 Fuel cell power plant A commercial-scale power generator in San Diego, California, using molten carbonate fuel cells