The use of fuel cells allows for the significant reduction of greenhouse gases
produced by conventional fossil fuel technology or absolutely eliminates
emission by the use of renewable energy hydrogen. Hydrogen produced by
water electrolysis via photovoltaic, hydro- and wind- power is an absolutely
clean fuel for fuel cells with zero greenhouse gas emissions. Having this in
mind, the US Federal government proposed in January 2003 a total of B$1.7
over the next five years to develop hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Japan is also aggressively pursuing the research and demonstration of
hydrogen and fuel cells with a 2002 budget estimated at around M $240.
Therefore, the market potential for the fuel cell technology is huge. For instance,
in Japan alone 50.000 PEMFC vehicles are expected to be operational by 2010,
a number that will increase to 5.000.000 in 2020 and to 15.000.000 in 2030.
Regarding stationary applications, it is estimated that the installed capacity of
PEMFC units will reach 2.100.000 Kw by 2010, 10.000.000 Kw by 2020 and
15.000.000 Kw by 2030. 

Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are currently being developed by Advent Technologies for the following applications

Stationary applications

Applications of fuel cells for stationary power have several attributes that make them an attractive alternative to incumbent technologies. These attributes include high reliability and the ability to serve remote off-grid locations. Additionally, the opportunity for co-generation creates even greater energy efficiency. Stationary fuel cells can be used in back-up applications where an uninterruptible power supply is critical, such as hospitals, computer data/banking centers and telecommunication transmitter towers.

As a replacement to conventional combustion power plants, generators or batteries, fuel cells will be able to generate electricity more efficiently than many of today`s technologies, and with less environmental impact (noise and emissions). The fuel cell technologies being developed for this power plant will generate electricity from hydrogen (supplied directly or via hydrogen-rich fuels like NG, propane, etc.)

Transportation applications

Transportation fuel cells have several advantages compared to internal combustion engines (ICEs) or diesels.

They are far more energy efficient, they do not rely on oil and they produce fewer emissions (as low as zero, depending upon the fuel used).

For these reasons, governments are particularly interested in promoting the use of fuel cells in the transport sector.

Portable applications

Fuel cells are an excellent source of power for emergency and recreational uses where access to the electric grid is restricted or simply unavailable. Portable devices offer great potential as back-up power supplies. Fuel cell power sources are also being developed for portable electronic devices.

In these applications, the fuel cell would provide a much longer life than a battery (perhaps ten times longer), and "refuel" quickly with a liquid or gaseous fuel. Another advantage of fuel cells over batteries is that they provide a much higher power density. Finally, technology in this area has also focused on direct methanol/ethanol fuel cells (DMFC/DEFC).