[dangerdoc]

I didn’t see the story but am familiar with the technology.

First, the commercial box produces enough electricity to run dozens of households.

Second, the fuel cell is only part of the entire unit. There are additional components to deal with fuel conditioning and delivery and another set of components to deal with heat management. Fuel cells produce DC current so there is going to be an inverter and additional electrical components.

[Huebolt]

Having a generator on location would indeed save transmission losses from a central generator plant. Economies of scale come in there though. The bottom line is inescapable thermodynamics. You don't get something for nothing. Efficiency may increase, but any "heat engine" has limits. Thermodynamics says, "You can't win, you can't break even, and you can't get out of the game".

Nuclear power is the only long term viable option.