A Summary of the EPA's Fuel Cell Program Dealing with the Environmental Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

This article summarizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Risk Management Research Laboratory's Fuel Cell Program (www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/std/fuelcell) and presents interim findings of an ongoing project aimed at quantifying how clean fuel cell technology is from “cradle-to-grave” compared to conventional power generation processes. Data and data sources will be reviewed by fuel cell type (polymer exchange membrane, phosphoric acid fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, molten carbonate fuel cell, etc.) and life cycle stage (manufacture, use, end of life). Data gaps will also be identified as well as proposed EPA strategies for filling these “knowledge” gaps regarding the environmental attributes of fuel cells.