The Fuel Cell Today Industry Review 2011 notes that the outlook for fuel cells has improved in the last few years. Fuel cells are selling without subsidies in many markets, with a total of more than 700 000 fuel cells sold between 2005 and 2011.

The Fuel Cell Today analysis reveals it is more informative to view the fuel cell industry as a collection of sectors at different stages of development. Thus, with the increasing diversity of fuel cell applications and the varying speed of adoption, it is more accurate to describe the fuel cell industry as a number of disparate commercial applications sharing the same technology and developing at different rates.

Portable, stationary, and transport applications are all exhibiting growth. By 2015, conservative estimates see upwards of 25 000 units sold per annum in both the stationary and transport sectors, with clear potential for significant growth beyond this.

The Fuel Cell Today Industry Review 2011 forecasts shipments in 2011 surpassing 285 000 units worldwide, growing by 25 per cent compared with 2010. This continuing success follows on from 40 per cent growth between 2009 and 2010.

It is no surprise that polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells will lead unit shipments in 2011, accounting for over 95 per cent of the total. Regionally, North America dominates with a 50 per cent share of total units.