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燃料電池靠電化學反應產生電能，無須燃燒，而是利用氫氣和氧氣發生反應，產生電流、水和熱量，幾乎沒有污染。燃料電池的功效就像電池一樣，但是又不同於電池，它的電不會用完，也不必充電；只要有燃料，它就能夠產生電能。如果燃料電池有一個轉化器可以將天然氣或其他燃料轉化為氫氣，那麼這些燃料也都可以用於燃料電池了。燃料電池是產生電力的一個非常有效的方式。對於乾旱地區而言，如非洲南部，燃料電池與高壓蒸汽渦輪和其他的發電技術不同，它的用水量非常少，這無疑是一個好消息。
燃料電池可以為汽車、個別建築和大規模的電力公司提供電力。燃料電池使發電可以分散進行，因此可以提供個別建築或地方發電廠的需求，而不需要長長的輸電線了。這種技術對於削減世界各地的溫室效應氣體的排放，具有潛在性重大影響：例如，1萬輛以非石油燃料為動力的燃料電池汽車，每年可減少698萬加侖的石油消耗。到2003年或甚至更早，燃料電池汽車有望得到廣泛使用。燃料電池汽車具有以電池為動力的（電動）汽車的優勢，但是添加燃料更快，而且每次添加燃料的間隔也更長。通用汽車公司最近的研究中提到，燃料電池汽車發動機和內燃發動機兩者的造價可以達到相近的價格。
燃料電池還可以利用廢水處理過程中的甲烷和二氧化碳來發電。在美國，廢水處理廠安裝了很多燃料電池設施，不僅能為社區發電發熱，還能消除廢水處理過程中產生的副產品所造成的污染。
燃料電池可以促進能源多樣化，促進向可更新能源的轉變。多樣的燃料-氫氣、甲醇、乙醇、天然氣和液化氣-都可以使用；生物、風能、太陽能都可以提供能量。
版權歸屬 國際河網IRN，環境資訊協會（陶俊 譯，李傑、李瑞玉 審校）
中英對照全文：http://e-info.org.tw/issue/water/2001/is-water-irn01111901.htm |
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A fuel cell produces energy electrochemically, without combustion, by harnessing the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat - and almost no pollution. A fuel cell ike a battery but, unlike a battery, it does not run down or require recharging. It will produce energy as long as fuel is supplied. Natural gas or other fuels can be used if the fuel cell has a reformer to convert the fuel to hydrogen. Fuel cells are a very efficient form of energy production. And the good news for dry regions like Southern Africa is that, unlike high-pressure steam turbines and other power-production technologies, fuel cells consume very little water.
Fuel cells can be used to power vehicles, individual buildings and large-scale utilities. They offer a very decentralized form of power production, since they can be put to use as needed at individual buildings or at local power plants, making long-range transmission wires unnecessary. The technology has the potential to have a big impact in reducing worldwide greenhouse emissions: for example, 10,000 fuel-cell vehicles running on non-petroleum fuel would reduce oil consumption by 6.98 million gallons per year. Fuel-cell cars are expected to be widely available by 2003 or even sooner. Fuel cell automobiles offer the advantages of battery-powered (electric) vehicles but can be refueled more quickly and go longer between refuelings. A recent study by General Motors noted that fuel cell car engines could be built for about the same price as an internal combustion engine.
Fuel cells can also be used to take advantage of methane and carbon dioxide emissions produced by wastewater treatment facilities. The US has a number of fuel cell installations at wastewater treatment plants, which not only produce electric power and heat for the community but also eliminate the pollution produced as a by-product of wastewater treatment.
Fuel cells can promote energy diversity and a transition to renewable energy sources. A variety of fuels - hydrogen, methanol, ethanol, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas - can be used. Energy also could be supplied by biomass, wind and solar energy.
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