Global Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Market

Invented and developed in the 1990s by researchers at several institutions in the United States, including NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is a recent addition to the host of fuel cell technologies. An important enabling technology for the world's energy portfolio, fuel cells have the potential to revolutionize the way nations power their countries, offering cleaner, more-efficient alternatives to the combustion of gasoline and other fossil fuels. DMFC is similar to the PEM cell in that it uses a polymer membrane as an electrolyte.

The need for clean energy coupled with strong electronics demand is projected to positively impact the global direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) market in the near future. It has applications spread across multiple industries with major end-use industries include electronics, automotive and industrial. DMFC has different types of applications, viz., portable applications, stationary applications and transportation applications. When compared to the conventional lithium ion batteries, these cells have higher energy density. These superior characteristics is expected to play a critical part in aiding the global market development. Government initiatives and regulations favoring clean technology are touted to positively impact the direct methanol fuel cell market. Government initiatives and increasing demand for clean energy due to high funding and subsidies is driving the market globally.

Market Dynamics

Augmenting the market is the increasing R&D investment by companies for initiatives and commercialization of these cells. DMFC can also be used in automobiles instead of conventional fuel and are considered to be more reliable and have better efficiency. These characteristics are presumed to aid the global as well as regional DMFC markets. To encourage product acceptance across industries and in turn compliment market growth, DMFC and subsequent storing of methanol is relatively easy than other materials. The need for longer battery life and higher performance and rapidly growing personal electronic product consumptionis projected to further strengthen the direct methanol fuel cell market.

Expensive R&D initiatives and technical limitations are anticipated to hinder direct methanol fuel cell market over the next five years. The high catalyst cost and a paucity of fuel distribution network are the other factors capable of negatively impacting the market. Robust demand in areas such as automotive, electronics and industrial operations is expected in the Emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil. These offer ample opportunities for the industry participants. Abundant opportunities for the new industry entrants as well as existing participants are there with Initiatives in R&D to commercialize direct methanol fuel cell and develop superior products.

Market Segmentation

Segmentedprimarily into application, component, and region, the DMFC market by application, has been sub segmented into portable, stationary, and transportation. This is expected to exhibit the highest growth rate during the forecasted period. Use of higher energy density fuel, namely methanol, which is a potential replacement for lithium ion/nickel cadmium batteries is driving the growth. Benefits such as easy recharge with changing methanol cartridge, cold start, and extended power back-up are driving the development of DMFC in portable application.

The market has been segmented into electrode, membrane, balance of system, and balance of stack on the basis of component. Balance of system component is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. DMFC's are put to use with the help of a DMFC system that contains arrangement and provision for methanol cartridges, air supply, water management, and housing design & assembly. , There would be an increased need for balance of system such as methanol cartridges, more air and water supply, with increasing fuel cells in large power applications. This need is expected to fuel the demand for the balance of system component.

Regional/Geographic Analysis

Regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America are expected to witness rapid rise in DMFC end-use industries such as automotive, electronics and other industrial usage. These developing regional market show promising growth estimations and offer abundant opportunities for the industry participants. The DMFC market, currently, is at a nascent stage and is characterized by a handful of companies. Initial high R&D costs are expected to ward off new entrants from entering the fuel cell industry. This scenario, however is expected to change once the technology commercializes and the initial investments decrease.

Key Players

Notable participants operating in the Global Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Market include Antig Technology Company Ltd., Viaspace Inc., Fujikura Ltd., Idatech LLC, Panasonic Corporation, Samsung SDI Co. Ltd., Neah Power Systems Inc., Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, CMR Fuel Cell Plc., DuPont Fuel Cell, Hitachi Ltd., OorjaProtonics Inc., MTI Micro Fuel cell Inc., Polyfuel Inc., SFC Energy Ltd., Sympowerco Corporation and Ultracell Corporation.

The report contains comprehensive analysis on:

--> Global Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Market

--> Global Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Market Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities

--> Global Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Market Size & Forecast 2017 to 2022

--> Supply & Demand Value Chain

--> Global Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Market Current Trends

--> Competition & Major Companies

--> Technology and R&D Status

--> Porters Five Force Analysis

--> Strategic and Critical Success Factor Analysis of Key Players

Regional analysis for Global Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Market includes

--> North America

>> US and Canada

--> Latin America

>> Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Rest of Latin America

--> Western Europe

>> EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, U.K.)

>> Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

>> Benelux (Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg)

>> Rest of Western Europe

--> Eastern Europe

>> Russia

>> Poland

>> Rest of Eastern Europe

--> Asia Pacific

>> China

>> India

>> Japan

>> Australia and New Zealand

>> Rest of Asia Pacific

--> Middle East and Africa

>> GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE and Kuwait)

>> South Africa

>> North Africa

>> Rest of Middle East and Africa

This report is an elaborate aggregation of primary inputs from industry experts and participants across the supply chain. It provides in-depth market segmentation that is derived from extensive product mapping exercises, macro-economic factors and other qualitative and quantitative insights. The impact of all such factors are delivered across multiple market segments and geographies.

Report Highlights::

--> Detailed Historical Overview (Market Origins, Product Launch Timeline, etc.)

--> Consumer and Pricing Analysis

--> Market dynamics of the industry

--> In-depth Market Segmentation

--> Historical and Projected Market Sizing in terms of volume and value

--> Recent market trends and Impact Factors

--> R&D Status and Technology Overview

--> Extensive Industry Structure Coverage