Phosphoric-acid fuel cells (PAFC)

The phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC) was one of the first fuel cells to be commercialized, and it remains a dependable choice for steady on-site power.

How it works

PAFCs use liquid phosphoric acid as the electrolyte and run at a moderate temperature (around 150–200 °C) — hotter than PEM, cooler than SOFC/MCFC. That middle ground makes them tolerant and reliable.

Strengths

Proven and durable — a long commercial track record in real installations.
Tolerant of impure hydrogen, so it works with reformed natural gas.
Good combined heat-and-power for hospitals, hotels, and campuses.

Trade-offs

PAFCs are larger and somewhat less efficient (electrically) than newer high-temperature designs, and they still use a platinum catalyst. Their appeal is reliability and maturity rather than cutting-edge performance.

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About the author — George Howell Ward is a long-time clean-energy advocate and early adopter, not a licensed engineer, energy professional, or scientist. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and writes here as an enthusiast and technologist. These guides are educational, draw on legitimate science only, and avoid debunked claims. His interest goes back over a decade: he was an early hydrogen fuel-cell enthusiast who promoted the technology through hands-on demonstrations — including hydrogen fuel-cell model cars — and attended a multi-day fuel-cell seminar hosted by UC Irvine's National Fuel Cell Research Center. (Mentioning the Center is descriptive only — it does not imply the Center endorses George, this site, or its content.)

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