There are similarities between fuel cell and solar cell(photovoltaic) systems. C
ID: 1815431 • Letter: T
Question
There are similarities between fuel cell and solar cell(photovoltaic) systems. Compare the two systems in terms ofcomponents, system performance, capital and operating cost, andenvironmental impacts. Where would I find these similarities? There are similarities between fuel cell and solar cell(photovoltaic) systems. Compare the two systems in terms ofcomponents, system performance, capital and operating cost, andenvironmental impacts. Where would I find these similarities? Where would I find these similarities?Explanation / Answer
Cost
The history of fuel cell equipment costs has shown that the
price of fuel cells has dropped significantly as thecommercial
market grows and the manufacturing technology becomes
mature. Initial cost of phosphoric acid fuel cell powerplants
was $5,500/kW and the current system cost is about
$3,000/kW [8]. This cost is expected to decrease further to
around $1,500/kW in future
A lead-acid battery power plant has currently the lowest
battery cost at around $150/kWh because it has been the
longest and most fully developed battery technology. The
battery cost is projected to reduce to $100/kWh in thefuture.
Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are 4 to 5 times more
expensive than the lead-acid types. Once the NiCd batteries
are fully mature, their price will drop but they will not beas
low as the lead-acid ones because of the raw material cost.
ENVIRONMENTAL EXTERNALITY
During their life cycle operation, fuel cell power plants
produce environmental externalities in the process of fuel
reforming. However, storage batteries themselves do not
contain any environmental impacts even though the battery
charging sources produce various emissions and solid wastes.
A fuel cell power system emits by far less 2 SO ,X NO and other
particulates in the fuel reforming process compared to
conventional fossil fuel power plants.
The amount of 2 CO emissions from the fuel cell systemis
similar to that from conventional fossil-fuel power plants,but
the fuel cell system’s high efficiency ranging from 40%to
60% results in lower 2 CO emissions.
Batteries themselves do not produce any emissions during
their operation period even if the power sources providingthe
batteries with charging power usually at off-peak time
generate several chemical emissions and solid wastes. The
batteries displace power generation rather than replace it.
Therefore, the batteries’ environmental impacts shouldbe
computed based on the baseload fuel mix used to charge the
batteries. For instance, the 2 CO emissions from fuelcell power
plants were calculated as 376.43 kg 2 CO /MWh, wherethe
efficiencies of the fuel reformer and the power plant are
assumed to be 95% and 45% respectively. For batteries, the
2 CO emissions of the power sources that charge thebatteries at
off-peak should be computed. When the fuel mix during a
charging period of the batteries is supposed to be 40% of
nuclear power and 60% of coal power, then the batteries’ 2CO
emission rate would be 714.3 kg 2 CO /MWh.
When fuel cell power plants are to be dismantled at the end
of their commission, they do not exhibit any detrimental
impacts on environment and no specific hazards are
encountered. Component recovery rather than waste disposal
is likely to be the issue. In phosphoric-acid fuel cells,nickel
from the fuel reformer catalyst and platinum from the anode
and cathode will require recovery. For molten-carbonate fuel