Fuel cells are an environmentally clean, quiet and highly efficient method for generating electricity and heat from natural gas and other fuels. Many utilities and energy service providers see fuel cells as an attractive opportunity for growth, and many companies are heavily involved in fuel cell development programs. It is projected that the costs of generating electricity through fuel cells will become competitive with traditional electricity-generating methods over the next 3 to 4 year - a prerequisite for successful fuel cell commercialization.
In this report, industry experts discuss why and how energy corporations should capitalize on fuel cell opportunities. These include increasing revenues by installing and/or leasing fuel cell systems and protecting the company from future customer loss, revenue erosion and interconnection obstacles. In particular, the report covers topics such as:
- Fundamental design and operational principles of fuel cells, applications and technology advances
- Leverage of funding and development programs to reduce costs of fuel cell implementation
- Joint ventures with fuel cell developers and manufacturers
- Market drivers for fuel cell systems
- Ways to achieve economies of scale
- Implications of federal, regional and state policy initiatives
- Competition with grid-supplied power
- Implications of future generation portfolio standards
- Ways to address interconnection challenges
- Five case studies on real-world fuel cell applications
- Economic comparison between fuel cell and other electricity-generating systems
Who Should Read This Report?
Executives working in Strategic Planning, R&D, Marketing, or Business Development Departments of Natural Gas or Electricity Companies, Consultants and Suppliers to Utilities
Listing of Companies & Institutions Represented
- Argonne National Laboratory
- Bonneville Power Administration
- ConEdison
- Encorp
- E SOURCE
- Gas Research Institute
- International Fuel Cells
- Massachusetts Water Resource Authority
- M-C Power Corporation
- Metzler & Associates
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- NewEnergy Associates
- Northeast Utilities
- ONSI Corporation
- PECO Energy Ventures
- Potomac Communications Group
- San Diego Gas & Electric Company
- U.S. Fuel Cell Council
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Policy Initiatives, Opportunities and Risks
- 3.1. The Market for Fuel Cells
- Comparison with other DG options
- Competition with grid-supplied power
- Market drivers for fuel cell use
- End-user acceptance of fuel cells
- Strategies to maximize fuel cell opportunities
- 3.2. Fuel Cell Technology: Principals, Applications and Advances
- The major players in technology advancement
- The science behind the technology
- Fuel cell product specifications
- Fuel cells versus gas turbines
- 3.3. Fuel Cell Development/Implementation
- Manufacturers of fuel cells
- Federal R&D support efforts
- Outcome of recent field tests and projects
- Communication with the fuel cell industry
- 3.4. Impact of Policy Initiatives
- The Clinton Administration’s electric restructuring proposal
- Congressional reaction to federal initiatives
- Industry’s bid to write interconnection standards
- The role of net metering
- 3.5. Potential Utility Erosion by Fuel Cells
- Technological, regulatory and economic hurdles for fuel cell commercialization
- Anticipated market penetration of fuel cells
- Uncertainty of the value of distributed resources
- Customer loss to fuel cells
- Overall consumer benefits of fuel cells
- Business Growth Opportunities
- 4.1. Business Strategies to Pursue Fuel Cell Opportunities
- Investment in fuel cell R&D internally or through partnerships
- Involvement in marketing and selling fuel cell technology
- Integration of DG applications into distribution planning
- 4.2. Fuel Cell Partnership: Bonneville Power Administration and Northwest Power Systems
- A three-stage program for fuel cell commercialization
- Partnerships between utilities and technology companies
- Technical features and applications of BPA’s fuel cells
- 4.3. Opportunities in Fuel Cell Distribution
- Technical requirements for commercial fuel cells
- Technology assessment and manufacturer’s claims
- Cost factors in marketing fuel cells
- Financial due diligence analysis
- Implementation of Fuel Cell Technology
- 5.1. ConEdison's Strategy to Meet Customer’s "Green" Objectives
- Positive public relations opportunities
- Support for tenant-generated power
- Selling gas to fuel cell owners
- Liability and off-line maintenance
- Considerations for on-site power generation
- 5.2. Partnership Benefits for Utilities, Municipals, and Fuel Cell Suppliers
- Fuel cell operation using landfill gas
- A team project: Northeast Utilities, Town of Groton, International Fuel Cells and the EPA
- Installation, operation, and maintenance of landfill-operated fuel cells
- 5.3. Interconnection - Essential Considerations for DG Technologies
- Interconnection challenges: fuel cells and other DG resources
- Hardware and software requirements
- Interconnection to the grid using an inverter
- Assessment of technical issues
- 5.4. Fuel Cell Implementation at a Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Project description of Boston's MWRA wastewater facility
- Project funding and site selection
- Operation of the facility
- Conversion of wastewater processing into an energy-generating process
- Benefits of the project
- 5.5. Leverage of Funding and R&D Programs to Manage Fuel Cell Implementation Costs
- U.S. DOD/DOE rebate program
- Direct government purchases
- DOD fuel cell testing center
- Technology development programs
- State funding programs
- The SDG&E development programming MCFC technology
- Economic Comparison Between Fuel Cell and Other Electricity-generating Systems
- Homes
- Retail Stores
- Restaurants
- Manufacturing Plants
- Conclusion
- Indices
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