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Data Centers: Hydrogen Fuel Cells Replace Diesel Generators
Data centers are engineered to run 24×7 with 99.999% uptime service level agreements. To maintain that level of operation, backup power is kept available that can kick in at a moment’s notice should a power outage occur. Backup power is typically supplied by diesel generators.
Microsoft and other data center operators are investigating the use of alternatives to diesel that are cleaner. For example, a data center that Microsoft operates in Sweden now has switched to a greener type of diesel fuel that contains 50 percent renewable raw material and has far fewer carbon dioxide emissions.
Another example is Microsoft’s data center in New York. In 2022, a new hydrogen fuel cell technology was launched which replaced the diesel generators. The new generators are able to output three megawatts of power, the same power the previous diesel generators were able to handle.
Sean James, Microsoft’s director of data center research, said that “what we just witnessed was, for the data center industry, a moon landing moment. We have a generator that produces no emissions. It’s mind-blowing.”
Hannah Baldwin, an electrical engineer that worked on the Microsoft Hydrogen cell backup project, said that “this is the coolest thing I’ve ever done. I don’t know how I’m going to top this in my career. There’re just so many pieces of the puzzle that have to come together. And seeing them all coming together and working well and stable is rewarding.”
