The UK government-backed Carbon Trust has introduced a GBP8 million (USD12.8 million) Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge to encourage cost-effective, home-grown breakthroughs in fuel cell technology. Carbon Trust says fuel cells currently power forklifts and mobile phone masts or provide power in camper vans but the technology is too expensive to be more widespread.

A breakthrough in fuel cell technology could open a global fuel cell market worth more than USD180 billion by 2050, according to new Carbon Trust analysis. Mass market applications of fuel cell technology, like fuel cell cars and buses, and fuel cell-generated electricity and heating in homes and businesses, could save the UK up to 7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050, the equivalent to taking two million cars off the road.

Robert Trezona, Carbon Trust's R&D chief, says fuel cells have been 10 years away from a real breakthrough for the past 20 years.
"Our initiative aims to drive forward commercialisation of the UK's unique fuel cell expertise, which will play a crucial role in cutting carbon and creating jobs and economic value."

Carbon Trust analysis shows that if substantial cost cuts can be achieved, the global fuel cell market could be worth more than USD26 billion in 2020 and more than USD180 billion in 2050. The UK share of the market is projected to be USD1 billion in 2020, rising to USD19 billion in 2050.

Celia Greaves, from Fuel Cells UK, welcomes the Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge.

"The UK is home to [several] world-class fuel cell companies and research centres, and substantive intellectual property has already been created. Initiatives like this from the Carbon Trust are vital to strengthening the UK's position and ensuring the UK remains competitive in this growing global industry."

The Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge aims to support breakthroughs that will allow high-volume costs to come down by 35%, making the technology attractive for mass markets.

A call for proposals for fuel cell projects is now open. Carbon Trust will select three novel ideas and offer up to GBP1 million (USD1.6 million) to each participant to develop and prove their ideas.

If one of the three demonstrates its potential for lower-cost fuel cell systems, Carbon Trust will co-invest up to GBP5 million (USD7.98 million) to develop the technology commercially.

For more information, visit http://carbontrust.co.uk/fuelcells.

Carbon Trust was set up by the UK Government in 2001 as an independent company to accelerate the move to a low-carbon economy and develop low-carbon technologies.