The Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018 has just been released, offering data, analysis and commentary on key events in the industry in 2018. Now in its fifth year, the Fuel Cell Industry Review has been compiled by a team led by SHFCA member E4tech - a specialist energy strategy consultancy with deep expertise in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector. This team also includes SHFCA member Jonathan Lewis, formerly with Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems. Highlights in this Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018 include:
– The fuel cell world in 2018: 2018 was good for fuel cells. Other than for one or two companies, neither units nor MW shipped saw significant growth, but a lot of groundwork was laid, serious players entered, and money came into the sector. Bloom finally listed, and many other companies raised finance, some through strategic joint partners. China continued to excite and confuse, while Korea re-entered the market with a vengeance.
– Heavy-duty leads the way: Fuel cells are increasingly considered the leading option for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, as battery electric technology becomes less competitive as range and weight increase – not to mention the difficulty of recharging huge amounts of batteries. 2018 has confirmed this interest, with important orders being placed and momentum starting to develop.
– Trains: Hydrail is here! The world’s first fuel cell passenger train entered revenue service in 2018. Alstom’s Coradia iLint started operations with Eisenbahnen Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser (EVE) on a 100km regional line in Lower Saxony, marking the start of an alternative electrification option for short and medium passenger lines across the world.
– Ships and boats As part of the trend towards heavy-duty applications, fuel cells are increasingly of interest in shipping, though hydrogen in internal combustion engines has traction too. This responds both to greenhouse gas and local emissions concerns.
– Forklifts – finally going global? Material handling vehicles (MHVs) are still dominant in fuel cell transport in terms of units deployed. North America has represented almost the entirety of the global MHV market, with little activity across the rest of the globe. But while North America remains by far the largest market, developments elsewhere are starting to take root.
– Electrolysers – making hydrogen for fuel cells? As noted last year, the potential for low-cost green hydrogen is now helping drive interest in fuel cells. Collapsing wind and solar power costs make renewable hydrogen from water electrolysis a competitive option with fossil sources – at least on paper. And the potential for hydrogen to help decarbonise energy and industry is driving policy and investment.
This is just a very small selection of key insights from the 2018 Fuel Cell Industry Review team. The 2018 Review is free to download, and to access your very own copy just go to: http://www.fuelcellindustryreview.com/
Previous editions of the Fuel Cell Industry Review are also available from their archive.