The SUPERGEN Fuel Cells consortium is tackling the considerable challenges associated with making powerful, durable fuel cells. Researchers are working on three types of fuel cell technology and considering how cells can run on a variety of fuels including anything from bio alcohol to diesel.

Since the consortium first started in 2004, the fuel cell landscape has considerably changed. Fuel cell technology is now commercially available in a number of early markets such as battery chargers, fork lift trucks and scooters. It's also close to market in a number of mainstream applications including back-up power supplies and residential combinted heat and power systems.

Technology demonstrations are also taking place in the transport sector as shown by fuel cell powered cars and buses. All of this is contributing to an improved understanding of the types of failure modes and performance limitations within current fuel cell devices and highlighting the need for greater scientific understanding to address these.

The SUPERGEN fuel cells consortium is well placed to meet this need by encouraging collaboration between academic and industrial partners.

The SUPERGEN Fuel Cells consortium is part of the wider SUPERGEN initiative from the Research Council's Energy Programme. The programme is led by EPSRC in partnership with BBSRC, ESRC and NERC. It aims to contribute to the UK's environmental emissions targets through a radical improvement in the sustainability of the UK's power generation and supply.