# Fuel cells: Overview

Flameless power from hydrogen, with water as the only exhaust

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/overview/

What this tile covers Cells that turn hydrogen or other fuels straight into electricity, with heat as a by-product. Share of use.01% share of final energy use (2024)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. Installed stationary fuel cells about 2 GW (Korea over 1 GW, US about 600 MW, Japan about 336 MW, Europe about 40 MW, China under 20 MW). At an assumed 80% load factor that is about 14 TWh or 0.05 EJ a year, about 0.012% of roughly 435 EJ final energy (calculated). Fuel-cell vehicles add little. Rough estimate. Source: [Stationary fuel cells](https://ieafuelcell.com/output/stationary-fuel-cells/), IEA Advanced Fuel Cells Technology Collaboration Programme.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Chemical (H2) → electrical, plus heat |
|---|---|

#### Included from the reference tables

- Hydrogen fuel cells
- Methanol fuel cells
- Solid-oxide fuel cells
- Fuel-cell power units

#### Linked to the material world
[Pt Platinum](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/platinum/)[H2 Hydrogen](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/hydrogen/)

#### Also in Conversion devices
[ST Steam turbines and thermal power plants](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_steam_turbines/)[CCGT Gas turbines and combined cycle](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_gas_turbines/)[ICE Internal combustion engines and gensets](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_engines/)[Gen Generators and alternators](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_generators/)[Mot Electric motors and drives](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_motors/)[PE Transformers and power electronics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_power_electronics/)[Elz Electrolysers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_electrolysers/)[HP Heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_heat_pumps/)[EH Electric heating](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_electric_heat/)[LED Lighting and displays](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_lighting/)[Blr Boilers, furnaces and stoves](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_combustion_heat/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_cells/links/index.md)