Arc welding device and method with fuel cell

Electric arc welding equipment with welding circuit and welding electrode for forming a weld bead on a workpiece has fuel cell(s) as electrical energy source to supply the voltage and current for the circuit and (partly) strike an arc between the electrode and workpiece. Between its anode and cathode, the cell has proton-conducting solid polymer membrane(s), holding an organic maintenance agent and a mechanism for transferring this to the anode. Independent claims are also included for (a) the welding process using this equipment, which comprises providing an electrode, fuel cell as energy source and circuit and supplying the current to strike the arc; (b) the use of a fuel cell for supplying current and voltage in this equipment or process.