Fuel cells have the potential to be a genuinely clean source of energy for transportation, according to a new study.

British academics funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) said that fuel cells could prove to be a "disruptive innovation" - changing the energy landscape in a similar fashion to how compact discs changed the world of music.

However, the report authors said that a chronic lack of investment was so far holding back the technology's progress within Britain.

"Fuel cells are a genuine 'clean' technology," said investigator Professor Chris Hendry of the London-based Cass Business School.

"But re-investment in nuclear technology is likely to squeeze out the investment necessary to make fuel cells competitive with existing energy sources and with other non-nuclear alternative energy options."

While Britain has made strong steps in developing hydrogen as a fuel, industry supply chains for hydrogen are still under-developed, with few efforts to create a market. However, examples exist of the way forward.

"The role of a clear guiding vision and political will," the authors add, "is illustrated by Japan, which has bypassed bus demonstrations in favour of building a fuel infrastructure that can be used by the automotive industry to support the development of cars."


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