Suitability of fuel cell technology for electricity utility standby power applications

This paper provides an overview of fuel cell technology in terms of its history, operation, applications and the benefits of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell versus vented lead acid batteries. Life cycle costing comparisons between vented lead acid batteries and proton exchange membrane fuel cells indicate definite benefits and showed that lower power proton exchange membrane fuel cells can compete as alternative energy storage devices in utility telecommunication sites. The criteria used to determine the suitability of an energy storage technology at a site is discussed. A section of the paper is devoted to discuss the operation of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell which is installed at a telecommunication repeater site. The integration of the fuel cell with existing DC supplies at the site, as well as preliminary test and performance results of this proton exchange membrane fuel cell installation are discussed.