Abstract
Research Overview
Lack of Technology Standardization and Awareness on the Benefits of Alternative Energy Sources
Energy storage solutions such as fuel cells and ultracapacitors are a fairly
new market that is gradually finding its place as an alternative to the age
old battery technology. Technological benefits are being outweighed by small
yet thought provoking limitations such as low energy density of
ultracapacitors and the safety aspect of hydrogen storage in fuel cells. It is
therefore imperative for the market to progress to a stage where technology
would undergo standardization both in manufacturing as well as product
implementation. Early adopters have leveraged confidence in these emerging
sources of power. Nevertheless their feedback would serve as a deciding factor
for further adoption. Awareness about ultracapacitors, fuel cells and their
benefits need to ideally be exposed to the consumer whose decision is valuable
in further leveraging these alternatives. This study identifies the current
stage of the ultracapacitor and fuel cell market for UPS applications and its
expected growth till 2012.
Industry Goals
Ultracapacitors are Ideal for Power Bust Requirements Providing Adequate Ride- through Time for Battery Start-up
Currently, seen as an intermediary solution that bridges the time between
power outage and start up of a battery, ultracapacitors are seen as a viable
solution due to their ability to provide efficient ride through power.
Although ultracapacitors provide backup power from a few seconds to a minute,
they extend the life of the battery whose life is affected by peak power
requirements. As a complementary solution to the battery, they have high power
density, recharging cycles and low maintenance that makes them ideal for use
as a bridge power solution.
Environmental Benefits of Fuel Cells Driving the Need to Commercialize Fuel Cells
The by products of fuel cells are water and heat which can be used as a
supplementary energy source. The search for alternative energy sources world
over led to the idea of using fuel cells as an option as it reduces external
dependencies on fossil fuels particularly in the automotive industry. The use
of fuel cells for UPS applications however is driven by dissatisfaction with
battery performance and maintenance issues associated with batteries. Despite
its many concerns, fuel cells are being considered as an option due to its
wide operating temperatures, reliability, compact size and reduced noise.
Presently, given the tax benefits that the US and UK government have on fuel
cells and its promotion; there is more incentive for early adopters to try
this niche technology despite high costs.
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