Fuel Cells by the Numbers | Green Energy News

November 2, 2003 – Vol.8 No.32

FUEL CELLS BY THE NUMBERS.

Two surveys published this week...

In its first survey of member companies, the U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) reports that sales of fuel cell products, parts and services by U.S. companies participating in the survey totaled $167 million in 2002, up from $151 million in 2001 - an 11 percent increase.

And while the industry is making sales, research and development goes on. R&D expenditures that equaled $248 million in 2001 increased to $288 million in 2002 - up by 16 percent.

The increases in sales and continued research translated into an increase in employment in the industry. Jobs in fuel cell related fields went from 2745 in 2001 to 3273 in 2002 - up 19 percent.

More than 85 percent of USFCC members participated in the survey which was conducted for the trade association by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Visit the Council at http://www.usfcc.com/ .

A study by Fuel Cell Today concludes that since the late 1950’s more than 6800 hydrogen fuel cells of all sizes and types have been put into service worldwide. (Of course many, such as the alkaline fuel cells used in the Apollo moon program, are no longer in service.)

And since interest in the technology really got into gear recently, more than 650 large fuel cells averaging 200 kilowatts have been deployed. In 2003 Fuel Cell Today estimates 65 new large systems will be put into service.

In terms of numbers of units, smaller sized units have grown the most. Those between 100 watt and 10 kilowatt have a cumulative total of 1900 units, and 100 watt or less used in portable applications at nearly 3600 world wide.

The study, Fuel Cell Systems a Survey of Worldwide Activity, does not include metal/air fuel cells. Visit Fuel Cell Today at http://www.fuelcelltoday/ .