The problem was, as they were, they were not feasible for home use. Technical improvements were required to ensure a steady supply of electricity and to make the equipment small enough to be placed in or around the home. Also, the cost of home fuel cell made the purchase of one unrealistic. The size of home fuel cells is still somewhat problematic, however, experimental systems have been developed that are small enough to be placed in front of the house, and home fuel cells can be purchased for around $5000, making them much more affordable.

Home fuel cells offer great advantages to the purchaser, as well as everyone else. While the purchaser gets to have their electricity generated without the use of utility companies, the biggest advantage of fuel-cell systems is their eco-friendliness. They rely on a chemical reaction that is electrolysis in reverse, and the only byproducts are electricity and hot water. No carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxides are generated.

So why doesn't everyone use home fuel cells? Well, originally fuel cells ran off hydrogen, and storing hydrogen near people's homes caused concern. However, today, home fuel systems use natural gas or kerosene, which does result in emissions of carbon dioxide, but is still 20% less than that generated by thermoelectric power plants.

It is estimated that if fuel cells are used to meet households' entire hot water needs and two-thirds of their electricity needs, consumption of primary fuels can be reduced by 20% and emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides cut by 20% and 68%. An additional 20% savings is anticipated due to the elimination of energy loss during transmission.

Fuel cells are becoming very popular, and not just for the home, in fact, many companies are competing to develop fuel cells for laptops, cell phones, etc. The competition is fierce, and the emergence of home fuel cells in every home is a realistic view of the future, especially as not just the fuel cell industry is promoting the spread of home fuel-cell systems, so are the gas and kerosene industries, as the spread of home fuel cells will contribute to higher sales of gas and kerosene as sources of hydrogen.