Fuel Cell Today has published a new report which predicts that there will be 30 million portable fuel cell units in operation by 2019, it was revealed yesterday (15th April).

The company, a leading industry body for market-based fuel cell intelligence, has compiled its latest survey addressing the development of portable fuel cells over the next ten years.

According to the study, about 9,000 units were manufactured and shipped over the course of the year, with fuel cell toys and demonstration kits accounting for the majority.

In addition, the research found that there is a growing trend for the units - most of which were of the hydrogen-fuelled PEM variety - to be used for remote monitoring and display lighting.

The report also highlights the importance of niche applications such as commercial direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) battery chargers, which Fuel Cell Today predicts will see shipments increase substantially in the next 12 months.

However, it also envisages a major spike in shipments over the next few years when consumer electronic devices with integrated fuel cells begin to hit the mainstream markets.

One section of the report reads: "We anticipate that these niche applications will add up to a long peak of fuel cell adoption, eventually cumulating in the conventional short peak of demand for mass market fuel cell-powered consumer electronics."

The predictions come as a leaked product roadmap revealed that Toshiba will release a fuel cell-powered mobile phone in the fourth quarter of 2009, Greek website Techblog reports.

According to the news provider, the seven-inch L01 handset - which will be powered by DMFC and feature a QWERTY keyboard - will be comparable to the one unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.