The adoption curve: what can we learn from microelectronics? - Like the microelectronics business before it, the fuel cell industry is confident it is progressing along a viable path to market adoption

摘要

Many other technologies have confronted the state of affairs currently being faced by the fuel cell industry. Consider the microelectronics landscape just three decades ago: the technology held immense promise; the hype had outpaced the reality; mass commercialisation could not occur without substantially reduced costs; research was moving in many different directions. And look what happened. This track record raises hopes for the future of fuel cells Indeed, as with microelectronics, an adoption curve has emerged to make commercialisation practical while advancing innovation. Already, industry leaders have made progress along that adoption curve. With the presence of certain drivers, further progress can point the way to a more stable blend of grid and distributed generation in the future.