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Fuel Cell India 2011: Market Perspectives & Opportunities
Gravel Research Inc, Jan 2011, Pages: 143
World is witnessing a worsening global warming situation as power generation is continuously being increased throughout the world using fossil fuels. Higher energy generation through fossil fuel imparts environmental degradation and is now a matter of concern globally. The world population is also expected to double by the middle of the 21st century and as a consequence economic development will also grow. As a result global demand for energy is expected to increase substantially by 2050 (by about two to three times).
This calls for optimization of generation of energy through well-known sources and also for conservation in the utilisation front as short-term measure. The long-term measure really calls for search of new sources, preferably renewable energy for commercial exploitation. Fuel cells provide an alternate efficient, nonpolluting power source that produces no noise and has no moving parts. Though they have been in existence providing electricity on spacecraft since the 1960s, in more down-to-earth applications, they could be used as electricity-generating plants or as a power source for nearly exhaust-free automobiles.
However, the main hindering point is the high cost of manufacturing the devices, which has currently largely limited them to a handful of exotic applications. Comparative cost of energy storage in fuel cells is around $3,000/kw, diesel generators cost less than $1,500/kw whereas gas turbines cost less than $1,000/kw. Now falling prices and new technologies suggest that the fuel cell's day may finally have arrived.
About the Author
James Fitzgerald
Dr James Fitzgerald has specialized in the energy sector for the past two decades. Having worked in the energy sector in various important roles both in Asia and America, he has developed a vast knowledge of the field. He is an independent consultant for the power industry, and as freelance writer he has contributed to The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Observer and The Economist.
In addition to the energy sector, James Fitzgerald’s interests include nanotechnology and distributed systems industry.
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