A back-up power solution with no batteries

Fuel cells offer potentially attractive alternative backup power solutions for telecom applications. In order to intelligently assess different fuel-cell alternatives, one needs to understand the major types of fuel cells and their current state of development. Recent major developments in polymer-electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) have resulted in multiple companies introducing PEMFC-based products. However, there are important differences in PEMFC technologies that clearly differentiates these products and their key attributes (e.g., lifetime and cost). UTC Fuel Cells has recently employed their proprietary PEMFC technology in a prototype 5-kW back-up power unit, which provides a seamless power transition without the use of batteries.