The Energy Department today released the 2013 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report, detailing trends in the U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen technologies market. The report highlights continued growth in fuel cell commercial deployments, including material handling equipment such as forklifts as well as combined heat and power systems and back-up and auxiliary power units.

More than 35,000 fuel cell systems were shipped in 2013, an increase of more than 26% over 2012 and 400% more than 2008. In 2013, worldwide fuel cell industry sales surpassed $1 billion for the first time—reaching $1.3 billion. Deployments and orders for fuel cells for telecommunications backup expanded into the Middle East, China, the Philippines, and other international markets. With more than 300 fuel cell-powered material handling equipment vehicles at its existing fleet in Spartanburg, South Carolina, BMW now claims the largest number at a single location in the world. A 14.9 MW fuel cell power park opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and the world’s largest fuel cell power plant, 59 MW, was installed in Korea.

The industry made tremendous progress in the light-duty transportation sector and achievements include the launch of H2USA, a public private partnership focusing on overcoming the barriers to hydrogen infrastructure. The U.K. launched a similar initiative called UK H2Mobility. Hyundai began leasing its first series production fuel cell electric vehicle at select dealerships in Southern California. Several automaker partnerships were announced to advance fuel cell electric vehicles, including Daimler, Ford, and Nissan; Honda and General Motors; Toyota and BMW; and Volkswagen and Ballard Power Systems. Many automakers anticipate commercialization by 2017. In addition, eight states signed a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate on zero-emission vehicle implementation.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Fuel Cell Technologies Office publishes the Fuel Cell Market Report every year to describe data compiled in the previous year on trends in the fuel cell industry with some comparison to previous years. This report provides valuable data to industry, stakeholders, and investors.