More than 5,200 Hydrogen Fueling Stations to be Operational by 2020
Hydrogen is widely used for its chemical properties ina range of industrial applications. Fuel cells that use direct
hydrogen are opening up a new business opportunity for hydrogen
suppliers - one with potentially high demand if some key markets
take off.
The key direct hydrogen fuel cell applications that are currently
seeing traction are light duty vehicles, forklifts, buses,
stationary power, and scooters. These fuel cell market present
different infrastructure buildout pathways, with varying
opportunities and challenges.
class=”MsoNormal”>According to a new report
from Pike
Research, as a result of this infrastructure
investment, more than 5,200 hydrogen fueling stations for cars,
buses and forklifts will be operational worldwide by 2020, up from
just 200 stations in 2010.
class=”MsoNormal”>The cleantech market intelligence
firm forecasts that, by the end of that period, annual investment
in hydrogen stations will reach $1.6 billion, with a cumulative
10-year investment totaling $8.4 billion. The increased utilization
of hydrogen as a fuel will drive annual demand from approximately
775,000 kilograms (kg) in 2010 to 418 million kg by
2020.
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“There is no one clear business model for the hydrogen
infrastructure market at present,” says senior analyst Lisa
Jerram.
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“Currently, the major players in hydrogen fueling are large
multinationals: the industrial gas companies, and the energy and
gas companies, both those that operate retail gas stations and
those that provide fuels for the grid. These companies tend to
favor large-scale hydrogen infrastructure
options.”
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Jerram adds that some smaller “independent” hydrogen suppliers that
are developing and marketing smaller onsite hydrogen generator
technologies could offer a more modular path to hydrogen
infrastructure buildout.
Yet another pathway is presented by vehicles using very small
quantities of hydrogen, such as scooters. These vehicles can be
fueled by small solid state hydrogen cartridges, which are readily
distributed in retail outlets.
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Pike Research’s analysis indicates that forklifts will be the
largest driver of hydrogen fuel demand by 2020, representing 36% of
the total market by that time.
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Vancouver’s Ballard Power Systems recently today announced a
purchase order commitment from Plug Power Inc. for a minimum 3,250
fuel cell stacks over the next 18-month period, for use in the
material handling market, namely class-1, -2 and -3 forklift
trucks.
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The other large application categories include light duty vehicles,
which will consume 33% of total hydrogen, and uninterruptible power
supplies (UPS) for stationary power, which will represent 27% of
the total. Fuel cell buses and scooters will each be a relatively
small percentage of total hydrogen demand.
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Pike Research’s report,
“Hydrogen Infrastructure”, analyzes the
dynamics of global demand for hydrogen fuel and the infrastructure
investments that will support fueling stations for fuel cell light
duty vehicles, buses, forklifts, scooters, and stationary power
applications.
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The study includes an examination of market issues, technology
issues, and the competitive landscape within the hydrogen
infrastructure industry.
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Market forecasts for hydrogen demand and fueling infrastructure,
segmented by application and geography, are provided through 2020.
An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download
on the firm’s
website.
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Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that
provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology
markets. For more information, visit
or call +1.303.997.7609.
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