The history of fuel cells started in 1839 when Sir William Robert Grove (picture) managed to show that the electrolysis of water in dilute sulphuric acid was reversible. He found that a cell with two platinum electrodes in an aqueous solution of an acid could split water into oxygen and hydrogen. Furthermore, when he interrupted the current, it was still possible to measure a cell voltage . After supplying hydrogen and oxygen to the electrodes a current flew in the cell and it was possible to take electricity energy out of the system.

About 100 years after Grove's invention, Bacon dealt with the hydrogen oxygen fuel cell in greater detail. He thought that using nonoble catalysts would help to achieve the commercial breakthrough. Bacon drove fuel cell technology forward by controlling the porosity of the electrode. As a result the available reaction rate was massively enlarged. Shortly after Allis Chalmers demonstrated a fuel cell powered tractor.

In the late 1950's, a little known federal agency called National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) began to search for a compact electricity generator to provide onboard power for an upcoming series of manned space missions. After discharging nuclear reactors as too risky, batteries as too heavy and short lived, NASA turned to fuel cells.

NASA eventually funded more than 200 research contracts into all aspects of fuel cell technology. Today, after reliably supplying of electricity to the Apollo and Space Shuttle missions, fuel cells have proven their role in space.

These success led to predictions in the 1960's that fuel cells would be the solution to the world's energy problems. The same qualities that make fuel cells ideal for space exploration small size, high efficiency, low emissions, minimal water use or net water productions appeal as well to stationary power producers.

Fortunately, during the previous years various companies and federal agencies have supported numerous demonstration initiatives, research and development into stationary applications. Efforts in Europe and Japan also received increase support and now constitute significant governmentally backed initiatives.

It has taken more than 150 years to develop the basic science and to realise the necessary materials improvement for fuel cells to become a commercial reality.