Fuel cells are an amazing energy advancement that could help the
smart grid take off by allowing for companies to generate clean
energy on-site. But it’s still early days for the technology as
a successful product, and there’s a weak link that’s hindering
broader adoption: lifespan. Earth2Tech editor Katie Fehrenbacher
notes this morning that the stacks within the cell that create
the reaction that produces electricity are, for lack of a better
word, short-lived. At roughly two to five years of life, the
stacks — specifically, the catalyst that facilitates the
reaction, such as platinum — degrade over time. The problem: the
“hot box” chamber that contains the stacks can be 50 percent of
the price of the entire device, if not more. Fuel cell makers
are spending a lot on R&D trying to find these stack lifetime
breakthroughs, but are also looking to reduce costs via reaching
economies of scale of manufacturing. The idea is even if the
stacks don’t last longer in the future, they can ultimately be
cheaper to prod