Source-to-Service-Analyses for Mobile and Stationary Fuel Cell Solutions

摘要

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an appropriate tool for examining environmental advantages and problems of new technologies. This paper investigates the production and operation of fuel cells in mobile and stationary applications with different fuel options. Fuel cells can contribute significantly to a global reduction in environmental impacts, as exemplified in this paper by the global warming potential and the acidification. Particularly attractive is the use of fuel cells in combined heat and power production (CHP). In passenger cars, fuel cells with hydrogen as a fuel are clearly superior to methanol fuel cell cars. Each potential application of fuel cells should be optimised carefully with respect to environmental characteristics. Due to the longer lifetime, the production of fuel cell systems in stationary applications is generally less relevant than in mobile applications. In the latter, recycling of the catalyst materials plays a key role in the overall assessment.