The Business Case for Fuel Cell Technology

2. Introduction

3. Policy Initiatives, Opportunities and Risks

3.1 The Market for Fuel Cells

• Comparison with other DG options
• Competition with grid-supplied power
• Market drivers for fuel cell use
• End-user acceptance of fuel cells
• Strategies to maximize fuel cell opportunities

3.2 Fuel Cell Technology: Principals, Applications and Advances

• The major players in technology advancement
• The science behind the technology
• Fuel cell product specifications
• Fuel cells versus gas turbines

3.3 Fuel Cell Development/Implementation

• Manufacturers of fuel cells
• Federal R&D support efforts
• Outcome of recent field tests and projects
• Communication with the fuel cell industry

3.4 Impact of Policy Initiatives

• The Clinton Administration's electric restructuring proposal
• Congressional reaction to federal initiatives
• Industry's bid to write interconnection standards
• The role of net metering

3.5 Potential Utility Erosion by Fuel Cells

• Technological, regulatory and economic hurdles for fuel cell commercialization
• Anticipated market penetration of fuel cells
• Uncertainty of the value of distributed resources
• Customer loss to fuel cells
• Overall consumer benefits of fuel cells

4. Business Growth Opportunities

4.1 Business Strategies to Pursue Fuel Cell Opportunities

• Investment in fuel cell R&D internally or through partnerships
• Involvement in marketing and selling fuel cell technology
• Integration of DG applications into distribution planning

4.2 Fuel Cell Partnership: Bonneville Power Administration and Northwest Power Systems

• A three-stage program for fuel cell commercialization
• Partnerships between utilities and technology companies
• Technical features and applications of BPA's fuel cells

4.3 Opportunities in Fuel Cell Distribution

• Technical requirements for commercial fuel cells
• Technology assessment and manufacturer's claims
• Cost factors in marketing fuel cells
• Financial due diligence analysis

5. Implementation of Fuel Cell Technology

5.1 ConEdison's Strategy to Meet Customer's "Green" Objectives

• Positive public relations opportunities
• Support for tenant-generated power
• Selling gas to fuel cell owners
• Liability and off-line maintenance
• Considerations for on-site power generation

5.2 Partnership Benefits for Utilities, Municipals and Fuel Cell Suppliers

• Fuel cell operation using landfill gas
• A team project: Northeast Utilities, Town of Groton, International Fuel Cells and the EPA
• Installation, operation and maintenance of landfill-operated fuel cells

5.3 Interconnection-Essential Considerations for DG Technologies

• Interconnection challenges: fuel cells and other DG resources
• Hardware and software requirements
• Interconnection to the grid using an inverter
• Assessment of technical issues

5.4 Fuel Cell Implementation at a Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Project description of Boston's MWRA wastewater facility
• Project funding and site selection
• Operation of the facility
• Conversion of wastewater processing into an energy-generating process
• Benefits of the project

5.5 Leverage of Funding and R&D Programs to Manage Fuel Cell Implementation Costs

• U.S. DOD/DOE rebate program
• Direct government purchases
• DOD fuel cell testing center
• Technology development programs
• State funding programs
• The SDG&E development programming MCFC technology

6. Economic Comparison Between Fuel Cell and Other Electricity-generating Systems

• Homes
• Retail Stores
• Restaurants
• Manufacturing Plants

7.Conclusion

8. Indices

Bibliography

• Web links