The prospects of fuel cell technology
Robert Galley and Claude Gatignol have investigated the possible future development of fuel cell technology, the principle of which was discovered as long ago as 1839. In the 1960’s there was some research into this technique for producing electricity from hydrogen, notably under the impetus of the space programmes as a means of supplying electricity in space vehicles. Despite various attempts, no applications outside this field have emerged, owing to the predominance of fossil fuels. However growing attention has been paid to the damage caused to the environment and human health by the emissions resulting from the combustion of these fuels. Also people are increasingly aware that the reserves of these fuels are necessarily limited, and that their current rate of consumption is such as to hold out the prospect of an ultimate energy shortage, particularly as concerns transport which is highly dependent on oil. It therefore appears appropriate to begin considering what might take over from the "oil economy", and the fuel cell is one of the possible approaches. The fuel cell has been in the news recently, and indeed at regular intervals its advent is claimed to be imminent. Accordingly in this publication the two rapporteurs provide a far-reaching study of its true level of development. The study finally raises a question that is increasingly being discussed: will hydrogen be the power source of the 21st century?
Short title:
Fuel cells
Start date:
2001-01
End date:
2007-06
Project leader:
Office Parlementaire d´Evaluation des Choix Scientifiques et Technologiques of the French Parliament (OPECST)
Country:
France

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