FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY MAKES ITS WAY INTO ENERGY GENERATION

摘要

Fuel cells have emerged as a small but potentially significant piece of the world's energy puzzle. The U.S. Department of Energy estimated worldwide fuel cell system sales in 2013 at $1.3 billion, the first time the billion-dollar mark had been topped. Stationary power systems with an aggregate capacity of 150 MW were shipped in 2013, a 24% increase over the previous year. Selling fuel cell power generation remains a tough business. One leading provider-installer-operator, FuelCell Energy Inc. , stated in its 2014 annual report that its two biggest challenges to growth are reducing the total cost of fuel cells and getting major energy consumers to see the value that fuel-cell technology offers. The company reported net losses in each of its last five fiscal years.