Increasing global energy demands makes more efficient energy conversion technologies highly attractive. One such technology is proton conducting fuel cells (PCFCs) operating in the intermediate temperature range of 200-600 °C, and a key component of such fuel cells are the proton conducting electrolytes. However, it has proved difficult to design materials with high enough proton conduction and improved understanding of the local structural properties of these materials is needed. For example, in respect to dopant clustering, the oxygen vacancy interactions (not all vacancies are filled by OH-) and proton trapping effects near dopant cations must be characterised. Increased understanding of these factors will help develop PCFC technology as a substantial contributor to an increasingly environmental sustainable and energy conserving society.