Advancing Europe's Energy Systems- Stationary Fuel Cells in Distributed Generation

Stationary fuel cells can play a beneficial role in Europe's changing energy landscape. The energy systems across Europe face significant challenges as they evolve against the backdrop of an ambitious climate agenda. As energy systems integrate more and more generation capacity from intermittent renewables, numerous challenges arise. Amongst others, Europe's energy systems of the future require new concepts for complementary supply, such as efficient, distributed power generation from natural gas. At the same time, significant investments to modernise the electricity grid infrastructure are needed. Long-term storage solutions become a growing priority to ensure permanent power supply, e.g. power-to-gas. Moreover, Europe puts greater emphasis on energy efficiency in order to save primary energy, reduce fuel imports and increase energy security.
Against this background, distributed generation from stationary fuel cells promises significant benefits. This study outlines a pathway for commercialising stationary fuel cells in Europe The present study outlines a pathway for commercialising stationary fuel cells in Europe. It produces a comprehensive account of the current and future market potential for fuel cell distributed energy generation in Europe, benchmarks stationary fuel cell technologies against competing conventional technologies in a variety of use cases and assesses potential business models for commercialisation. Considering the results of the technological and commercial analysis, the study pinpoints focus areas for further R&D to sustain innovation and provides recommendations for supportive policy frameworks.
The study has been sponsored by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. Compiled by Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, it builds on an interactive approach involving a coalition of more than 30 companies, public institutions and associations from the stakeholder community of the European stationary fuel cell industry.