Editing Fuel cell (section)

===Power===
{{See also|Hydrogen fuel cell power plant}}
Stationary fuel cells are used for commercial, industrial and residential primary and backup power generation. Fuel cells are very useful as power sources in remote locations, such as spacecraft, remote weather stations, large parks, communications centers, rural locations including research stations, and in certain military applications. A fuel cell system running on hydrogen can be compact and lightweight, and have no major moving parts. Because fuel cells have no moving parts and do not involve combustion, in ideal conditions they can achieve up to 99.9999% reliability.<ref name="Fuel Cell Basics Benefits">{{cite web|title=Fuel Cell Basics: Benefits |publisher=Fuel Cells 2000 |url=http://www.fuelcells.org/basics/benefits.html |access-date=2007-05-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928225430/http://www.fuelcells.org/basics/benefits.html |archive-date=28 September 2007 }}</ref> This equates to less than one minute of downtime in a six-year period.<ref name="Fuel Cell Basics Benefits"/>

Since fuel cell electrolyzer systems do not store fuel in themselves, but rather rely on external storage units, they can be successfully applied in large-scale energy storage, rural areas being one example.<ref name="fuelcells.org">[http://www.fuelcells.org/basics/apps.html "Fuel Cell Basics: Applications"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515080800/http://www.fuelcells.org/basics/apps.html |date=15 May 2011 }}. Fuel Cells 2000. Accessed 2 August 2011.</ref> There are many different types of stationary fuel cells so efficiencies vary, but most are between 40% and 60% energy efficient.<ref name=Types1/> However, when the fuel cell's waste heat is used to heat a building in a cogeneration system this efficiency can increase to 85%.<ref name=Types1/> This is significantly more efficient than traditional coal power plants, which are only about one third energy efficient.<ref>[https://www.energy.gov/energysources/electricpower.htm "Energy Sources: Electric Power"]. U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed 2 August 2011.</ref> Assuming production at scale, fuel cells could save 20–40% on energy costs when used in cogeneration systems.<ref>[http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/48219.pdf "2008 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904104908/http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/48219.pdf |date=4 September 2012 }}. Bill Vincent of the Breakthrough Technologies Institute, Jennifer Gangi, Sandra Curtin, and Elizabeth Delmont. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. June 2010.</ref> Fuel cells are also much cleaner than traditional power generation; a fuel cell power plant using natural gas as a hydrogen source would create less than one ounce of pollution (other than {{CO2}}) for every 1,000&nbsp;kW·h produced, compared to 25 pounds of pollutants generated by conventional combustion systems.<ref>U.S. Fuel Cell Council Industry Overview 2010, p. 12. U.S. Fuel Cell Council. 2010.</ref> Fuel Cells also produce 97% less nitrogen oxide emissions than conventional coal-fired power plants.

One such pilot program is operating on [[Stuart Island (Washington)|Stuart Island]] in Washington State. There the Stuart Island Energy Initiative<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siei.org/ |title=Stuart Island Energy Initiative |publisher=Siei.org |access-date=2009-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618081052/http://siei.org/ |archive-date=18 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} – gives extensive technical details</ref> has built a complete, closed-loop system: Solar panels power an electrolyzer, which makes hydrogen. The hydrogen is stored in a {{convert|500|U.S.gal|L|adj=on}} tank at {{convert|200|psi}}, and runs a ReliOn fuel cell to provide full electric back-up to the off-the-grid residence. Another closed system loop was unveiled in late 2011 in Hempstead, NY.<ref>{{cite web|title=Town's Answer to Clean Energy is Blowin' in the Wind: New Wind Turbine Powers Hydrogen Car Fuel Station |url=http://townofhempstead.org/news/564-towns-answer-to-clean-energy-is-blowin-in-the-wind-new-wind-turbine-powers-hydrogen-car-fuel-station |publisher=Town of Hempstead |access-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128114634/http://townofhempstead.org/news/564-towns-answer-to-clean-energy-is-blowin-in-the-wind-new-wind-turbine-powers-hydrogen-car-fuel-station |archive-date=28 January 2012}}</ref>

Fuel cells can be used with low-quality gas from landfills or waste-water treatment plants to generate power and lower [[methane emissions]]. A 2.8 MW fuel cell plant in California is said to be the largest of the type.<ref>[http://www.onlinetes.com/fuel-cell-energy-power-101612.aspx World's Largest Carbon Neutral Fuel Cell Power Plant] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528160634/http://www.onlinetes.com/fuel-cell-energy-power-101612.aspx |date=28 May 2013 }}, 16 October 2012</ref> Small-scale (sub-5kWhr) fuel cells are being developed for use in residential off-grid deployment.<ref>[https://www.upstartpower.com/2020/12/investment-residential-fuel-cell/ Upstart Power Announces Investment for Residential Fuel Cell Technology from Clean Tech Leaders] {{Webarchive| url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122122351/https://www.upstartpower.com/2020/12/investment-residential-fuel-cell/ |date=22 January 2021 }}, 16 December 2020</ref>