Open Access

REVIEW

Performance Degradation Mechanisms and Mitigation Strategies for PEM Fuel Cell Systems in High-Altitude Environments

Jianxin Pan¹, Yimeng Chen¹, Huachen Du¹, Xinghe Fan^1,2, Zhiming Feng^3,*, Xiaoxing Zhang^1,*
1 Hubei Engineering Research Center for Safety Monitoring of New Energy and Power Grid Equipment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
2 The College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
3 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
* Corresponding Author: Zhiming Feng. Email: ; Xiaoxing Zhang. Email:
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Hydrogen Energy Systems: Storage, Power-to-Hydrogen, and AI-Enabled Design, Planning, and Operation)

Energy Engineering https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2026.085738

Received 17 May 2026; Accepted 26 June 2026; Published online 20 August 2026

Abstract

As proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems are increasingly considered for transportation and stationary power applications in high-altitude regions, their performance degradation under low-pressure and oxygen-deficient environments has become a critical barrier to practical deployment. This review summarizes the key mechanisms responsible for PEMFC performance loss under high-altitude conditions, including reduced oxygen partial pressure, aggravated activation and concentration polarization, increased compressor load, and decreased system net power. Recent progress is reviewed from the perspectives of stack materials and components, air supply subsystems, system integration, control strategies, and energy management. Particular attention is given to catalyst-layer design, bipolar plate flow-field optimization, high-pressure-ratio air compressors, turbine-assisted energy recovery, oxygen excess ratio control, and net-power optimization. The analysis indicates that the major technical challenges for high-altitude PEMFC operation are no longer limited to stack materials, but are strongly associated with the coupled optimization of air supply, flow-field design, compressor operating boundaries, and altitude-adaptive control. Future research should therefore focus on integrated material–stack–system testing platforms, long-term field validation, and predictive models that couple degradation mechanisms with system-level control. This review provides a systematic reference for the design and optimization of PEMFC systems for high-altitude applications.

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Keywords

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC); high-altitude; performance degradation; air supply system; environmental adaptability

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