Bill: Just so you get the players right, in the low temperature area (i.e., requires a reformer to process the fuel) is everyone making PEM (dozens of players) and UTX, which, under the ONSI and IFC names, makes both PEM and phosphoric acid. In the more efficient high temperature fuel cells, there is ERC making carbonate and GLE and Siemens/Westinghouse doing solid oxide. ERC doesn't do solid oxide, and no one else public does carbonate.
Also, once again, high temperature fuel cells are not more efficient "according to Sid", they are more efficient period. This is a fact, not an opinion. Please check with Plug Power if you don't believe me.
Also, if there actually turns out to be a viable market for home size fuel cells - certainly a big question in my mind - the last thing Plug Power will find itself is alone. In the one reported story of a housing developer talking about putting them into a new development, Avista Labs' product is reported to be the choice, not Plug Power.
More important, all the PEM fc developers intending to market 250 kW units started out making smaller ones first. Ballard and IFC are years ahead of Plug Power. They have been skeptical of there being much of a market for the individual house size, but can turn them out in their sleep if they decide to do so. It will be easy enough for them to work with an established appliance brand name to get distribution. If there turns out to be a market, I wouldn't bet that Plug Power even ends up with a big piece of it. |
