World demand for energy continues to grow, and the pressures on industry leaders to develop cleaner solutions are increasing. One area of interest is renewable energy sources that have the potential to provide long-term, sustainable power.
There are many benefits to using fuel cells in various applications, including as an alternate energy source in off-grid locations and remote monitoring systems in industrial facilities. The following article explains what a fuel cell is, how it works, and why Ballard Power Fuel Cell is investment-worthy from an investor perspective.
What is a Fuel Cell?
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that uses hydrogen and oxygen from air or methane from natural gas to create energy. The hydrogen is fed into a cathode, transports the electrons to an anode to create electricity. The fuel cell is considered a source of clean energy because it produces carbon-free electricity. It can be used to power homes and businesses, as well as electrical grid systems. Compared to other sources of electricity, such as coal-fired power plants, fuel cells produce little to no emissions. They are also considered a reliable source of electricity because they are not as susceptible to weather-related outages.
How Does a Fuel Cell Work?
As already mentioned, a fuel cell is an electrochemical device that uses hydrogen and oxygen from air or methane from natural gas to create energy. The hydrogen is fed into a cathode, transports the electrons to an anode to create electricity. The anode produces water as a byproduct, often recycled and used in the fuel cell process again. Hydrogen is continuously shuttled from the anode to the cathode, and oxygen from the air enters the cathode to produce water. Hydrogen fuel cells are commonly used as a source of light and heat in many industries. For example, they are used in an emergency or off-grid situations in remote locations or in areas with a high risk of blackouts.
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Why Are Ballard Power Fuel Cells an Investment Opportunity?
There are many reasons why fuel cells could become a popular source of clean electricity in the future. Fuel cells are emission-free and require no fuel other than what is used to generate the electrolyte that breaks down water into hydrogen and oxygen. As a result, hydrogen fuel cells emit no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or other harmful emissions. Once the infrastructure is set up, fuel cells are expected to be very reliable and durable. They are also easy to maintain and have a very long lifespan. Since fuel cells are the only technology that can produce electricity from methane- hydrogen, they are a very attractive energy source for natural gas providers. The industry has high expectations for hydrogen-based fuel cells because they are significantly cheaper than current solar or wind energy sources.
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The Future of Ballard Power and Fuel Cells
The future of Ballard Power and its contributions to clean energy are expected to grow significantly over the coming decade. The company’s core products, which are fuel cells used to generate power from hydrogen, are expected to become more popular in the future as the energy industry transitions away from fossil fuels. Hydrogen fuel cells are expected to become a significant source of power in a variety of markets. In fact, they are expected to become a primary source of power in remote locations where there are no other feasible power options. The company’s future is also expected to benefit from an expected pivot toward natural gas as a primary clean energy source. Natural gas is expected to become a more cost-efficient and viable source of clean energy because of fuel cells. This pivot toward natural gas as a clean energy source is expected to drive demand for methane-based fuel cells, which are primarily manufactured and supplied by Ballard Power. The company’s core products are expected to continue operating through the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Ballard’s products are also expected to benefit from future technological developments, such as self-healing fuel cells. These developments are expected to increase the lifespan and reliability of fuel cell systems and make them more efficient over time. This is expected to drive demand for Ballard Power’s core products.
Key takeaways
The world is expected to rely increasingly on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to meet its energy needs. However, these sources are intermittent and cannot be used at all times of the day and year. Intermittent energy sources must be supplemented by an alternative source of clean electricity. Hydrogen fuel cells are expected to become a key source of power to meet these needs because they can be powered by methane, which is an abundant and cheap source of energy. Ballard Power is a leader in the fuel cell industry and is expected to benefit from the increased adoption of hydrogen-based energy sources. The company’s core products are expected to become more popular as the industry transitions from fossil fuels. The future of Ballard Power is also expected to benefit from future technological developments, such as self-healing fuel cells. These advancements are expected to drive demand for the company’s core products by increasing their lifespans and making them more efficient over time.
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