Hydrogen fuel cells: a niche option for standby power

Hydrogen produced using renewable energy is a key part of net-zero transition plans to provide a low-carbon energy source for the data center industry. Data centers can potentially use hydrogen as a low-carbon energy option for primary or standby power. Several data center operators have tested hydrogen’s viability for standby power. European operator NorthC has gone beyond testing: two of its facilities in the Netherlands generate on-site power from hydrogen, one using proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, the other using engines.

Hydrogen will become an economical option for more operators when a low-carbon hydrogen economy is established, or when operators can generate hydrogen on-site. However, storage, availability and transport of hydrogen will still be concerns. This report examines the role of hydrogen as an on-site standby power source. It is the second in a series examining the use of hydrogen for data center power.