The main disadvantage of fuel cells is that you need a hydrogen supply. Hydrogen is also a flammable gas, so the system must be designed, installed and checked with care.
When something else is better
- Small drones and short flights near a charger: a battery is simpler.
- Loads of tens or hundreds of kilowatts, day after day: a large genset is usually the better tool.
- Sites with the grid nearby: grid power or a battery backup is simpler.
- Very small loads of a few watts: a battery with a solar panel is usually enough.
Where fuel cells win
Silence, only water as emission, refuelling in about two minutes and work in the cold.
Not sure a fuel cell fits? See our PEM fuel cell stacks and ask our engineers.
Figures from the Unconventional Energy product pages. Updated 2 November 2026.