National benefits associated with commercial application of fuel cell powerplants

Technical Report · Fri Feb 27 04:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7193719· OSTI ID:7193719

Major privately sponsored research and technology efforts, now in progress, are aimed at developing the fuel cell for utility industry applications. These efforts, supported by both electric industry and gas industry elements, are developing the fuel cells for two major areas of application. In the first application, multi-megawatt fuel cell powerplants would be dispersed within electric utility networks to complement large-scale systems and provide for the generation needs of small private and public utilities. In the second mode, smaller size fuel cells would be sited at building locations to provide integrated electric and thermal service for commercial and industrial complexes. With continued funding of planned programs, utility application of the fuel cell could result within this decade. The objective of this report is to outline and discuss the application opportunities for first generation fuel cell powerplants, quantify improvements that these systems can offer in comparison with conventional electric generation techniques, and, in the context of a range of potential deployment scenarios, quantify the benefits to the Nation as a result of these improvements. This study has assumed that continued support of existing development programs will result in the commercial application of fuel cells in 1980. The potential benefits associated with commercial deployment of fuel cell powerplants during the 1980 to 1990 time period include fuel conservation, energy cost savings, pollution damage reduction, capital investment reduction, and improvement in balance-of-payments. The magnitude of these benefits is summarized.

• Research Organization: United Technologies Corp., South Windsor, Conn. (USA). Power Systems Div.
• OSTI ID: 7193719
• Report Number(s): ERDA-76-54
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501* -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
HEAT
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
USA
WASTE HEAT
WASTES