Demonstration of Polymeric Electrolyte Fuel Cell Systems for Future Power Distribution Grids

There are several opportunities for the future energy grids such as "smart grids" that require flexible "intelligent" generation systems, electrical storage, and high-level integration of all possible primary sources, traditional or innovative, fossil or renewable. PEFC systems, thanks to their quick start-up, user friendliness, and special features are already in the power-generation economy, taking significant niche market shares (APU, UPS, telecoms). Tests conducted have shown that the PEFC systems fed with hydrogen have the requirements to be commercialized already in short term also for residential applications, focus of the study. The present study aims to increase awareness in terms of performance of current fuel cell systems. As a matter of fact the tested PEFC system can be considered a plug and play pre-commercial product. Outputs of the paper highlighted both its limits and potential in the mid-to-long term for application of fuel cell systems in Distributed Generation applications in which RES are strongly exploited. In the paper, characteristics of a FC system and its performance operated in Microgrid configuration are described.