The Business Case for Fuel Cell Technology - Applications, Economic Analysis and Commercial Opportunities

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary
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�fs electric restructuring proposal
     • Congressional reaction to federal initiatives
     • Industry�fs 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�fs fuel cells
   • 4.3. Opportunities in Fuel Cell Distribution
     • Technical requirements for commercial fuel cells
     • Technology assessment and manufacturer�fs 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�fs "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
   • Weblinks