Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Research Report: by Component (Planar Cells, Separator Plates, Seals, Manifolds), Application (Portable, Stationary, Transportation)– Global Market Size, Share, Development, Growth, and Forecast, 2013–2022

The global planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) market stood at $379.9 million in 2015, and it is expected to reach $804.9 million by 2022, demonstrating a CAGR of 11.4% during the forecast period (2016–2022).

Geographically, Asia Pacific (APAC) held the largest market share, of 40.4%, in 2015. This is majorly attributed to the large-scale installation of such fuel cells for power backup. Countries including Japan and South Korea have showcased considerable industry growth in recent times, owing to the provision of subsidies for domestic manufacturing of fuel cells. In addition, a significant demand from the automotive industry in the region is expected to propel the sale of planar SOFCs, thereby boosting the planar solid oxide fuel cell market during the forecast period.

Dynamics of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market

The increasing stringency of government regulations, coupled with a rise in the energy prices, is one of the key trends being observed in the planar solid oxide fuel cell market. With the surging awareness on alternative energy sources, combustion-based electricity generators are being replaced by renewable energy systems such as solar panels, which display a higher efficiency in energy conversion. In addition, the fuel cells used in these devices do not cause any harmful emissions, owing to which these are suitable for applications in transportation, stationary/backup, and portable power applications.

With the increasing environmental concerns, governments across the globe are aiming to reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy sources. In an effort to achieve this this, stringent regulations for limiting the usage of non-renewable energy sources are being formed, which are leading to the development and adoption of alternative methods to create electricity. The fuel cell technology shows high efficiency in energy generation, owing to which it has a huge application base in stationary power generation. Therefore, such factors are expected to propel the planar solid oxide fuel cell market in the years to come.

Moreover, the increasing application base of such products in the oil and gas industry offers lucrative opportunities for growth to the market. For instance, the natural gas extracted on-site can be readily used as a fuel for direct fuel cell (DFC) power plants. With this, the power generated at the DFC power plants can be utilized to support the extraction process. In addition, DFC power plants serve as a clean source of energy and can provide power which can be injected underground for enhanced oil recovery. Therefore, the global solid oxide fuel cell market has numerous opportunities for growth in the coming years.

Segmentation Analysis of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market

The planar cells category held the largest market share, of 35.1%, in 2015, on the basis of component, and it is projected to reach $287.1 million by 2022, demonstrating a considerable CAGR during the forecast period. Planar cells serve as the most vital component in the manufacturing of a planar solid oxide fuel cells, owing to which this market category is expected to account for the largest share in 2022.

The stationary category dominated the market in 2015, based on application, and the trend is likely to continue during the forecast period. Stationary power includes any application in which the fuel cells are operated at a fixed location, such as large-scale systems for prime power, backup power or combined heat and power and small systems for micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) for residential and commercial operations. Fuel cells provide reliable backup power for telecommunications networks, which, in many cases, are located in remote areas, without developed power infrastructure, owing to which the demand for stationary SOFCs is expected to increase.

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Geographical Analysis of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market

Geographically, APAC accounted for the largest market share in 2015. Further, the market in the region is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period, owing to the increasing demand for the product from the automotive industry, in countries including India, Indonesia, and Thailand. In addition to this, the expansion of several other end-use industries in the developing nations of the region is expected to augment the growth of the regional market, at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape of Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market

Some of the leading players operating in the planar solid oxide fuel cell market are Ballard Power Systems Inc., FuelCell Energy Inc., Ultra Electronics Holdings plc, Ceres Power Holdings plc, and Chevron Corporation.

Recent Strategic Developments of Major Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Players

Lately, several players in the planar solid oxide fuel cell market have taken an array of strategic measures, in order to gain a larger share. For instance, in February, 2017, Ballard Power Systems signed a deal worth $25 million with its strategic partner, Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor Co. Ltd., for the assembly and supply of FCveloCity fuel cell engines in China, to address the fast-growing fuel cell vehicle markets.

Market Size Breakdown by Segment

The Planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market report offers comprehensive market segmentation analysis along with market estimation for the period 2012–2022.

Based on Component

• Planar Cells
• Separator Plates
• Seals
• Manifolds

Based on Application

• Portable
• Stationary
• Transportation

Geographical Analysis

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • U.K.
  • Italy
  • Spain
• Asia-Pacific (APAC)
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
• Rest of World (ROW)
  • Brazil
  • South Africa

Key Questions Addressed/Answered in the Report

• What is the current scenario of the planar solid oxide fuel cell market?
• What are the historical and present sizes of the categories within the market segments and their future potential?
• What are the evolving opportunities for the players in the market?
• Which application is expected to dominate the global market during the forecast period?
• Which are the key regions from the investment perspective?
• What are the major growth drivers for the market and their expected impact during the short, medium, and long terms?
• What are the key strategies being adopted by the major players to expand their market share?