MEA SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE UPCOMING FUEL CELL INDUSTRY

摘要

The potential market opportunity available to fuel cells has been estimated to be in the billions of dollars over the next decade. Such estimates are based in part on the expected growth in the demand for power along with assumptions regarding the value of high-quality electricity generated by means of environmentally friendly technologies. Clean, quiet and efficient, fuel cells certainly are well poised to deliver a revolutionary change to the way society thinks about power. In order to fulfil this potential, however certain necessary industry infrastructure must be established. A viable component supply chain is crucial to meeting cost, quality, and product availability targets. dmc~2, one of the world's largest suppliers of automotive emission control catalysts, is developing and supplying fuel cell products used in proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems. Precious metal handling and management, high throughput production and proven quality systems establish the commercial requirements that complement the necessary product technical performance. This paper will discuss product and infrastructure development that addresses the challenges to widespread adoption of fuel cell power systems. Widespread use of components containing platinum group metals (PGM) will require a comprehensive management and recycling strategy. Economies of scale available from high volume manufacturing depend upon the early use of component design for manufacturing and broad market product adoption. These aspects of fuel cell commercialization will be reviewed and evaluated with respect to realization of the potential fuel cell market opportunity.