Fuel cells: The expectations for an environmental-friendly and sustainable source of energy

It is a well known fact that eight countries have 81% of all world crude oil reserves, six countries have 70% of all natural gas reserves and eight countries have 89% of all coal reserves. Energy is central to achieving the interrelated economic, social, and environmental aims of sustainable human development. But if we are to realise this important goal, the kinds of energy we produce and the ways we use them will have to change. Otherwise, environmental damage will accelerate, inequity will increase, and global economic growth will be jeopardised. Energy produced and used in ways that support human development in all its social, economic and environmental dimensions is what is meant by sustainable energy. The generation of energy by clean, efficient and environmental-friendly means is now one of the major challenges for engineers and scientists. This paper reviews a proposed energy-related solution to global warming, air pollution mortality, and energy security. It discusses recent topics related directly to energy production such as fuel cells (FCs) which represent a promising clean and efficient energy conversion technology. The paper also focuses on those technologies which, in terms of cost, cleanliness, reliability and availability, have the potential to compete with conventional energy conversion systems and to reach commercialisation phase before 2015.