Fuel Cell Energy: The Future of Data Centers
According to a study conducted by public health researchers at Harvard University and UCLA, data centers in the U.S. produced more than 105 million tons of carbon emissions in 2023. And with the demand for faster technology and AI devices, this number is expected to rise as data centers grow. However, there is an alternative to using fossil fuels that pollute the environment. Fuel cell energy is a more sustainable option that can power data centers just as effectively as traditional methods. Continue reading to learn all the ways fuel cell energy can help your data center as well as the rest of the planet.
Understanding Fuel Cell Energy
Fuel cell energy produces electricity via chemical reactions from a fuel source and oxygen. Hydrogen fuel is the most sustainable option since it produces byproducts of water and heat rather than harmful chemicals like carbon dioxide. While much more energy efficient, hydrogen fuel isn’t always a practical choice for a data center’s primary energy source. Presently, hydrogen must be produced in one area and then transported to where it’s being used, which is inefficient for any facility’s main power supply. This type of fuel cell energy can be a great backup power supply though, since it can be transported in advance and then ready to use at a moment’s notice.
There are two main types of fuel cells that can be used to provide power for data centers: Proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). While both use hydrogen fuel, they vary in how they work and what they are best suited for. PEM fuel cells for example only need hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity and can operate at lower temperatures. This means they can start and stop faster, making them a convenient option for backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs).
SOFCs on the other hand can use various fuels from natural gas to pure hydrogen. They are also extremely efficient, able to capture and reuse heat generated during operation. These fuel cells require higher temperatures to operate, resulting in slower start and stop responses. As a result, this fuel cell energy is better suited for continuous duty applications that don’t need to be turned on or shut down instantly.
Benefits of Fuel Cell Energy
Fuel cell energy reliably serves data centers by providing an immediate backup power supply. Even if an outage occurs, these hydrogen fuel options can get facilities up and running again in no time. As long as hydrogen fuel is provided, these cells can generate electricity. Backup systems powered by fuel cell energy can also be easily adjusted to meet specific power requirements of individual data centers. No matter what a data center may face, backup systems powered by fuel cell energy will be able to keep up with any changes.
These fuel cell solutions also improve your data center’s sustainability by lowering its carbon footprint. Instead of using fossil fuels to back up your operations, fuel cells can use hydrogen fuel which is a renewable resource. Your sustainability efforts can be taken one step further by ensuring the hydrogen you’re using was created by solar or wind power which are also renewable energy sources. While this won’t get rid of your carbon footprint, it will lessen the amount you produce if a power outage occurs.
Integration with UPS Systems
To optimize fuel cells for back up solutions, they need to work with UPS systems and lithium-ion batteries. Instead of using fossil fuels to power your batteries, hydrogen fuel cells can create more electricity to keep your back up solutions charged and ready for an outage. However, this requires a UPS system’s energy management capabilities to control the created fuel cells, getting the energy to the batteries, and storing excess power when needed.
There are a few requirements a data center backup solution needs to have to replace your diesel power supply with fuel cell energy. Diesel fuel is traditionally stored in tanks under your facility’s generators and requires refills from fuel tanks transported by large trucks. If you are looking at switching to hydrogen fuel cell power, you need to make sure your facility has enough room for this energy storage which will be above ground.
Your site must have enough room for trailers to store your hydrogen fuel. According to Vertiv’s white paper on fuel cells, approximately four trailers of hydrogen are needed to provide forty-eight hours of backup power for a one-megawatt facility. However, you can install solar panels to create hydrogen fuel energy on site and immediately store it in the trailers. All of this takes careful planning and consideration of your facility to ensure the switch to hydrogen fuel cells is right for you.
Embrace Fuel Cell Energy with the Right UPS System
Fuel cell energy is changing how data centers are powered and how they affect the environment. This type of energy works seamlessly as a backup solution and has the potential to power the entire data center one day with its reliability, scalability, and sustainability. And with the right UPS system, fuel cells further improve their efficiency by storing otherwise wasted energy for later use.
Find the perfect UPS and other Vertiv products with the help of Joe Powell & Associates’s team of experts. Contact us today to learn more about data center energy solutions and become efficient and sustainable today!