The Development of Fuel Cell Technology for Electric Power Generation: From NASA's Manned Space Program to the BHydrogen Economy( High-efficiency fuel cells may be suitable for hydrogen-fueled electric power plants and transportation engines, but further development of this technology is needed.

This paper discusses the place of fuel cells among the various energy conversion technologies relevant to the hydrogen economy and the fossil fuel economy. Also summa- rized are the fundamental principles of fuel cell thermody- namics and of fuel cell power plant engineering. Further discussed are the differing requirements placed on power generation systems by spacecraft and terrestrial applications and how those requirements have directed investment in the development of fuel cell technology over the past half century.