Forum for fuel cells

An in-depth, one-day fuel-cell summit, presented by AEI, allowed open discussion on the burgeoning technology from various stakeholders. This month's focus is on two keynote presentations that addressed some business and regulatory trends regarding the development and adoption of fuel cells. OEM, supplier, and fuel-provider viewpoints will be highlighted in the upcoming months.

“We believe it is a question of when, not if,” said Marko Pencak, Director of Energy Technology Equity Research at Credit Suisse First Boston, referring to the future of the fuel-cell-powered vehicle. Pencak, a keynote speaker at the Fuel Cell Transportation Technology Summit held in San Jose, CA, in June, discussed the energy-technology industry from a business perspective, specifically addressing the issues surrounding the development and marketing of fuel cells as an alternative power source for vehicles.

A major trend in the evolution of fuel technologies has been what Pencak referred to as “decarbonization,” which characterizes current attempts to move away from fossil fuels-such as coal, oil, and natural gas-toward renewable sources of energy, including hydrogen from certain sources. With regard to the automotive industry, several factors are driving this change, one of which is the call for reduced emissions. This goal stems from both regulatory constraints as well as a “socially driven desire in many regions,” most notably in California, Europe, and Japan, said Pencak.