FUEL CELL
  Fuel cell are an emerging technology in the energy sector that offer significantly lower or zero emissions of harmful pollutants. A fuel cell is an electromechanical device that converts hydrogen fuel directly into energy without combustion. The only products of the fuel cell electromechanical reaction are electricity, heat and water.

A fuel cell is similar to a battery in that both release energy. However, the fuel cell is fundamentally different than a battery. A battery merely stores and releases a finite amount of energy before it needs to be recharged. A fuel cell, in contrast, acts more like an engine in that it produces energy indefinitely as long as it is provided with fuel.

A fuel cell consists of two electrodes - the anode and cathode - separated by an electrolyte. Hydrogen is introduced as a fuel on the anode side of the fuel cell. When the hydrogen comes in contact with the anode it dissociates into a proton and an electron. The proton travels through the electrolyte membrane while the electron must travel through an external electric circuit, thereby generating an electric current. When the proton exits the membrane on the cathode side of the fuel cell, it combines with oxygen to produce pure water and heat (the only byproducts of this reaction).

The fuel required to operate a fuel cell depends entirely on the type of fuel cell being used. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells require pure hydrogen, which can be sourced either as pure hydrogen or through the processing or "reforming" of hydrocarbon fuel such as natural gas.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) operate at higher temperatures than (PEM) fuel cells require pure hydrogen which can be sourced either as pure hydrogen or through the processing or "reforming" of hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) operate at higher temperatures than PEM fuel cells. SOFCs and MCFCs can convert hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas, directly into electrical power without the use of an external fuel processing step.

Fuel cells are currently being developed by some of the largest corporations in the world for use in automotive applications, stationery power and portable power applications. These technologies are expected to revolutionize the way in which our world generates power in the future.