The Data Center Frontier Show Powering the Future with Fuel Cells: A Deep Dive into On-Site Power Solutions for Data Centers
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May 29, 2025 Bala Naidu, Vice President of Energy Transition Solutions at Bloom Energy, delves into how solid oxide fuel cells are transforming data center power solutions. He highlights the urgent need for sustainable energy amid the data boom. Key points include the advantages of fuel cells over traditional systems, such as high power density and minimal emissions. Naidu also discusses fuel supply adaptability, scalability of technology for various data center needs, and valuable lessons from recent deployments, emphasizing resilience and efficiency.
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Key On-site Power Considerations
- Key on-site power considerations include power density, air emissions, noise, power quality, and economics. - These factors heavily influence technology choice for data centers.
Evolution of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
- Bloom Energy's solid oxide fuel cells operate primarily on natural gas with high efficiency near 55-60%. - The technology has evolved through six generations with major improvements in power density, reliability, and load following.
Advantages of Fuel Cells for Data Centers
- Data centers should prefer fuel cells over reciprocating engines or turbines for better power density and 30% lower natural gas consumption. - Fuel cells also offer negligible air emissions, modular scalability, and easier permitting.