Fuel cells have the capability to deliver the large amounts of power data centers need with low emissions and high reliability. Power security is a growing concern for data centers and fuel cells are a perfect match for data centers’ power security needs. Here are some of the key advantages over traditional backup power solutions.
Clean Backup Power for Emergencies
Data centers are facing an increasing number of potential threats today, particularly in terms of cybersecurity. Attacks designed to compromise data centers’ physical infrastructure are rising, with hackers targeting cooling systems and power supplies.
Utility providers are facing similar threats. The now-infamous Colonial Pipeline cyberattack in 2021 resulted in a full-system shutdown and a state of emergency along the east coast due to a large-scale ransomware attack.
Incidents like these mean data centers need a reliable, off-grid backup power source to protect their systems in the event of a cyberattack. Fuel cells can provide this reliability, even for large data centers. For example, Microsoft launched a zero-emissions 3-megawatt fuel cell backup generator for a data center in New York.
Fuel Cells vs. Traditional Backup Power
Energy consumption is one of the most important facilities metrics data centers should be tracking today. Electricity is often the single most expensive operating cost for data centers, but minimizing that cost can be difficult when they need constant access to power. However, fuel cells can provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution.
Fuel cells have some significant advantages over batteries and diesel generators regarding data center backup power. Diesel generators produce harmful emissions contributing to air pollution, pumping out CO2, nitrogen oxide and particulate pollution. In comparison, hydrogen fuel cells only generate water vapor and warm air. So, fuel cells are far more sustainable than typical diesel generators.
Fuel cells have the edge against backup batteries, as well. A battery will inevitably need to shut off to recharge — fuel cells can refuel while in operation. They can even be more efficient than many types of batteries and diesel generators. All these advantages make fuel cells a highly-appealing energy source for data centers.
Reliability in an Aging Power Grid
Even without the threat of cyberattacks or climate change, America’s utility infrastructure is aging. Most of the nation’s electricity infrastructure is well past its 50-year life expectancy. As this infrastructure ages, it is declining in performance and reliability, increasing the likelihood of power outages.
Data centers can’t risk going offline, though. As electricity infrastructure continues to age and diminish in reliability, data centers will have to rely more heavily on their backup power. Fuel cells are the ideal power source for backup generators. Hydrogen — the main element used in fuel cells — is less expensive than fossil fuels. Plus, fuel cells have a longer life span than the typical backup battery, as mentioned above.
A Fuel Cell Future for Data Centers
Fuel cells are one of today’s most appealing energy solutions for data centers. Offering high reliability and lower cost than other energy sources, they can provide the cost-effective power security that data centers need. Hydrogen fuel cells can even enable data centers to have zero-emissions or carbon-neutral operations, vaulting them into the clean energy future.
Jane Marsh, Contributor
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