Caterpillar and Microsoft have jointly achieved a successful demonstration showcasing the viability of hydrogen fuel cells as a reliable and sustainable backup power source for a data center, sustaining operations for 48 hours.
Collaborating with Ballard Power Systems, the project utilized a large-format hydrogen fuel cell system to power Microsoft’s Cheyenne, Wyoming facility during a simulated two-day backup event.
Despite the challenging conditions, the demonstration, conducted at an elevation of 6,086 ft (1,855 m) and in below-freezing temperatures, validated the hydrogen fuel cell power system’s performance. Caterpillar’s Microgrid Controller operated alongside two Cat Power Grid Stabilization (PGS) 1260 battery energy storage systems and a 1.5MW hydrogen fuel cell from Ballard.
According to David Mucciacciaro, Chief Commercial Officer of Ballard Power Systems, the project is “an important proof point of the reliability and durability of Ballard’s fuel cells in providing zero-emission backup power for data centers.””We are excited about the ability of our products to meet the critical power needs of data center customers in this rapidly growing sector”, he said.
“This successful collaboration with Microsoft and Ballard demonstrates the potential of hydrogen fuel cells to help data centers address their critical power needs while reducing their emissions,” Jaime Mineart, SVP at Caterpillar Electric Power, responded.
Microsoft, committed to becoming carbon-negative by 2030, views this successful collaboration as a significant step toward achieving sustainability goals. Although hydrogen fuel cell technology faces obstacles such as cost and storage complexities, this demonstration marks progress in addressing critical power needs while reducing emissions in the data center sector. Sean James, Senior Director of Data Center Research at Microsoft, said this latest demonstration “provides an opportunity for hyperscale providers to drive innovations in the sustainability of power generation technologies.”
The project, initiated in 2021, received support from the US Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
