This table lists the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) technical targets for fuel cell backup power systems.
More information about targets can be found in the Fuel Cells section of the Fuel Cell Technologies Office's Multi-Year Research, Development, and Demonstration Plan.
Technical Targets: Fuel Cell Backup Power Systems (1–10 kWe) Operating on Direct Hydrogen
Characteristic | Units | 2015 Status a | 2020 Targets |
---|---|---|---|
Lifetime | years | 10 | 15 |
Durability b | hours | 8,000 | 10,000 |
Energy efficiency c | % | 50 | 60 |
Mean time between failures | years | 5 | 5 |
Ambient temperature range | °C | -20 to 40 | -50 to 50 |
Noise | dB at 1 m | 65 | 60 |
Start-up time d | seconds | 60 | 15 |
Availability | % | 99.7 | 96.3 |
Equipment cost e | $/kW | 6,100 f | 1,000 |
Annual maintenance cost e | $/kW | 30 | 20 |
Annualized total cost of ownership g | $/kW | 500 | 200 |
a Unless otherwise stated, status based on input from RFI DE-FOA-0000738.
b Time until 10% voltage degradation when operated on a backup power duty cycle.
c Ratio of DC output energy from the power plant to the lower heating value of the input fuel (hydrogen), averaged over duty cycle.
d Time indicated is start-up time for the fuel cell. The backup power system, including hybridized batteries, is expected to provide uninterruptible power.
e Excludes tax credits and subsidies.
f NREL, "Current Fuel Cell System Low Volume Price by Application."
g Annualized cost of ownership, including cost of capital equipment, installation, operation and maintenance, fuel, and fuel storage. Based on a 5 kW system with 10-year lifetime.