Commercial stationary fuel cells provide power for buildings or industrial applications, such as cell phone towers or TV transmitters. Some businesses, such as Sierra Nevada Brewing Company use a stationary fuel cell for primary power supply. Other businesses, including some several grocery stores, use fuel cells as auxiliary, back-up or peak-shaving power. UTC Power reports that their fuel cells are about 85% efficient and create less than 20 grams of pollutants per MWh, compared to over 11,388 grams per MWh for an average U.S. electric plant.
Residential fuel cells provide primary or back-up power to homes, as well as providing hot water. The largest pilot program for residential power is in Japan, where 2,200 homes have suitcase sized fuel cells that create about 1/3 greenhouse gases of traditional electricity. Some US homes have fuel cells, as well. Honda’s planned Home Energy Station will create hydrogen for fueling a car, produce household electricity and provide residential hot water.
Portable fuel cells provide temporary power at a construction site or a concert, for example, or power portable devices, such as cameras and cell phones. Portable fuel cells also provide quiet, pollution-free electricity for campers, RVs, sailboats and other recreational activities. Multiquip, a company that provides construction equipment, is working with Sandia Labs, Boeing and Altergy to commercialize a fuel cell powered mobile light—like those you see lighting roadwork at night. The prototype light was used on the red carpet at the Oscars.
Fuel cell forklifts and lift trucks are replacing battery-powered forklifts in retailers and warehouses across the country. Fuel cells provide the energy needed for indoor forklifts, but refill in minutes instead of hours and don’t degrade in performance the way that batteries do. Companies like Whole Foods, Bridgestone/Firestone, Coca-Cola and the Defense Logistics Agency are all using fuel cell forklifts.
