Fuel Cells in the Future

World population is expanding at an extraordinary rate. Our need for energy is expanding even faster as our dependence on sophisticated technology increases. Our planet is becoming increasingly polluted.

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are the cause of accelerated climate change. They increase the naturally occurring "greenhouse effect" which traps heat from the sun and warms the Earth's surface. The "greenhouse effect" is essential to life on Earth. However, human-related emissions have upset nature's balance. Natural systems for removing greenhouse gases, principally forests, peats and oceans, are unable to cope with the excess levels of emissions leading to a rapid build-up of these gases and an increase in the "greenhouse effect". Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are leading to rapid changes in climate over a fairly short period of time with potentially dire consequences.

Paradoxically existing sources of fossil fuels, the source of much of this pollution, will become seriously depleted by the end of the century. Pollution, energy and population could become a serious cause of global tension.   The abundance of hydrogen means that world supply is not governed by a powerful, political bloc as is the case with hydrocarbons. This will liberate both the developed and developing economies.
		Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells’ test facilities

By combining electricity and heat output fuel cells can achieve up to 80% operating efficiencies. This compares with 30% for a conventional combustion engine and 40% for a gas turbine power station. As a consequence of superior efficiencies, fuel cell generated energy will be clearly cheaper to produce than traditional methods.

Fuel cells have the potential to increase global power supply in a cost efficient and effective manner without further damaging the environment.