Fuel cell technology offers clean, efficient, reliable power generation to almost any device requiring electrical power. Fuel cells are used in a wide range of portable, stationary and transport applications, from battery chargers to home heating and power to cars. Arguably, fuel cells represent the most versatile energy solution ever invented. Here you can find more information about the history and commercial applications of fuel cells.
The concept of a fuel cell was demonstrated in the early nineteenth century by a number of scientists including Humphry Davy and Christian Friedrich Schönbein. William Grove, a chemist, physicist and lawyer, is generally credited with inventing the fuel cell in 1839.
Fuel cells are used in a large number of different applications. Here we categorise these into three broad areas: portable power generation, stationary power generation, and power for transportation.
A fuel cell is like a battery in that it generates electricity from an electrochemical reaction. Fuel cells however use an external supply of chemical energy meaning they can run indefinitely, as long as they are supplied with a source of hydrogen and a source of oxygen (usually air).
For the answers to some common queries regarding fuel cells, please see our list of frequently asked questions.