December 21, 2011
The stationary fuel cell uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and backup power markets are experiencing double-digit annual growth, though admittedly from a low base. An increasing number of companies operating in these markets have fully certified products in many different regions, including Europe, the United States, China, Indonesia, and India. Notably, this is one of the few cleantech sectors where the pull for adoption is as strong in less-developed countries as it is in developed nations. This dynamic phase of industry growth is seeing a number of companies and markets appearing, as key industry players understand that their most importance competency is their ability to produce the fuel cell systems, which can then be integrated into the product line of a current UPS or telecom equipment supplier. According to a new Pike Pulse report published by Pike Research, the fuel cell companies that are best positioned for this early phase of the market are Dantherm Power and Altergy Systems.
“AC UPS is growing globally within the commercial and residential sectors,” says research director Kerry-Ann Adamson. “Combined with the continued rollout of mobile base stations, providing reliable and economical power for UPS that minimizes environmental impact is increasingly business critical.”
The stationary fuel cell UPS and backup power market consists of companies with products and those with potential close-to-market products. Although realistically there are only 13 companies capable of producing fully functioning fuel cell systems with integrated fuel storage for the UPS and backup power markets, another group of companies is waiting in the wings. Dantherm Power and Altergy gained the highest scores in the Pike Pulse report because both companies clearly exhibit a strong supply chain and high quality, high volume manufacturing. In addition, each company is less than 50% dependent on government funding (project funding, R&D funding, or direct government support).
Two other vendors, Hydrogenics and IdaTech, rank highly within the “Contenders” category on Pike Research’s Pike Pulse Grid for UPS and backup power. Over the past 24 months Hydrogenics has undergone a transition from an exploratory phase of company growth to one of increasing commercialization, and is now seeing much higher traction in its key markets. IdaTech, meanwhile, has the potential to leapfrog other companies in the sector in the next 18 months and become a leader.
The “Pike Pulse Report: UPS/Backup Power Stationary Fuel Cells” evaluates 13 of the leading UPS and backup power fuel cell developers and rates them on 12 criteria for strategy and execution, including go-to-market strategy, product portfolio, partnerships, innovation, reach, market share, pricing, and staying power. Using Pike Research’s proprietary Pike Pulse methodology, developers are profiled, rated, and ranked with the goal of providing industry participants with an objective assessment of these companies’ relative strengths and weaknesses in the rapidly growing UPS and backup power stationary fuel cell market. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.
Contact: Richard Martin
+1 303 997 7609