MICROSOFT

Redmond giant must replace diesel generators in its data centers with hydrogen fuel cells

A diesel generator is an integral part of the backup power subsystem of any serious data center, but by its very nature cannot boast exhaust neutrality. Many are looking for replacements for traditional generators, including Microsoft. The company recently announced that it has reached a milestone in the development of hydrogen fuel cells, which Microsoft says are expected to replace traditional diesel generators in its data centers.

The company has begun testing a new 3 MW generating station based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. It is capable of powering 10,000 servers. The company has been experimenting with fuel cells for a long time, going back to 2013, but previous developments used natural gas and were in fact not so eco-friendly.

The company was able to develop hydrogen PEM cells in cooperation with Plug Power. Over several weeks in June, the companies jointly tested a prototype next-generation generator. The new system, which emits only heated water vapor into the atmosphere, has been working well, and Plug Power is already working on a commercial version of the system.

Proton exchange membrane: design and principle of operation. Source: Encyclopedia Britannica

The first copy will be installed by the Microsoft Research Center, but so far no specific date has been announced. The IT giant has high hopes for these technologies: by 2030, the company plans to upgrade backup power systems in all of its data centers.

It is true that there are doubts about the full environmental compatibility of hydrogen fuel cells: they work without harmful emissions, but their production itself may not be as clean as the operation. However, the US government has approved an $8 billion plan to develop hydrogen production as part of the fossil fuel alternatives program. There are similar initiatives in Europe, both modest (€2.5 million) and very large (€1 billion).

AVnews