Equinix and NUS College Explore the Viability of Hydrogen for Sustainable Power Generation
Developing alternate renewable power sources is vital to maintaining uptime for data centers, ensuring global connectivity and business continuity remain uninterrupted. Equinix, Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company, together with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Centre for Energy Research & Technology (CERT) under the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), today announced the results of their green hydrogen fuel technology study.
As one of the world’s first research projects to explore proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and/or alternate generator technologies as environmentally viable backup power supply options for data centers, the study assessed various types of alternative power supplies and their reliability, cost, operating conditions and environmental impact. Several systems that can feasibly utilize hydrogen as an energy source were spotlighted as potentially viable alternative solutions that operate on renewable energy. Based on specified conditions, environmental factors and operating requirements, data center operators will now have access to additional insights they need to help make an informed decision when implementing alternate fuel supply systems.
Hydrogen fuel cells have emerged as a potentially dependable solution to address the intermittent nature of weather-dependent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. When renewable energy generation fluctuates due to dynamic weather conditions, hydrogen fuel systems could act as an efficient backup power source so that data centers stay online. Further developing hydrogen technologies could potentially create a robust energy security buffer that reduces the effect of unpredictable power interruptions and dependence on non-renewable backup fuel sources.
Yee May Leong, Managing Director, South Asia, Equinix said: “It’s exciting to see the collaboration between Equinix and the NUS CDE yield formative research that has led to insightful findings for alternate fuel sources. This also demonstrates the wealth of innovation and R&D talent available in Singapore. Representing a cumulative and concerted effort to drive meaningful impact in sustainability for the data center industry, the results are also a promising development for Singapore’s hydrogen aspirations. We will continue to work with CDE to accelerate disruptive technologies that can reduce the carbon footprint of global data centers, particularly in tropical locations".
Associate Professor Lee Poh Seng, Director, Centre for Energy Research and Technology, NUS College of Design and Engineering, said, “The feasibility study with Equinix aligns with Singapore's national hydrogen strategy and provides actionable insights for global data center sustainability. Our analysis highlights PEM fuel cells and alternate generator technologies as promising backup power solutions, especially in tropical climates. This collaboration marks a significant step toward a sustainable digital economy, and we look forward to extending our partnership with Equinix for broader impact locally, regionally and globally".
Associate Professor Sanjib Kumar Panda from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS College of Design and Engineering, said: “By partnering with Equinix, we were able to unlock new research opportunities that explore alternative green solutions to power data centers. Continued research will contribute to the development of hydrogen-fueled alternative power sources in Singapore, one that could potentially be applied globally as well".
