Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Top 10 Projects and Companies for Data Centers Application

The Silent Powerhouse: How PEMFCs Are Fueling the Next Generation of Data Centers

In the heart of our digital world, a quiet revolution is underway. Every search, stream, and cloud-saved file relies on a data center—vast, power-hungry complexes that form the backbone of modern life. As the demand for data, driven by AI and IoT, explodes, so does their environmental footprint. The familiar roar of diesel generators, the long-standing guardians of uptime during grid outages, is a stark reminder of this carbon cost. But what if backup power, or even primary power, could be generated silently, with nothing but water as a byproduct? This isn’t science fiction. It’s the reality being built today with Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), a technology moving from the lab to the server rack, promising a future of resilient, zero-emission data infrastructure.

Installations Powering the Digital Frontier

Tech giants and innovative energy firms are now moving beyond theory and demonstration, deploying megawatt-scale PEMFC systems. These projects highlight a clear and accelerating trend towards adopting hydrogen as a clean, reliable power source for the world’s most critical digital infrastructure. The following installations represent the leading edge of this transformation.

1. Microsoft’s 3 MW PEM Fuel Cell Backup Power Plant

Company: Microsoft, Plug Power
Installation Capacity: 3 MW
Applications: Providing emissions-free backup power for data centers. The system uses PEM fuel cells.
Source: Hydrogen fuel cells could provide emission free backup power at …

2. ECL’s Hydrogen-Powered Data Center

Company: ECL
Installation Capacity: 1 MW
Applications: Powering a data center entirely with hydrogen using PEM fuel cells.
Source: A green revolution? Hydrogen fuel cells in the data center – DCD

3. Ballard, Caterpillar, and Microsoft Data Center Project

Company: Ballard, Caterpillar, Microsoft
Installation Capacity: 1.5 MW
Applications: Data center backup power using a fuel cell and battery microgrid solution
Source: Microsoft, Caterpillar and Ballard data center partnership earns top …

4. Vertiv and Ballard Partner for Zero-Emission UPS

Company: Ballard, Vertiv
Installation Capacity: Not specified, but Ballard’s PEM fuel cell technology is available in sizes from 200 kW to well into the MW range.
Applications: Developing a fully integrated zero-emission uninterrupted power supply (UPS) system for data centers.
Source: Ballard and Vertiv Partner to Deliver Zero-Emission UPS

5. Honda’s Stationary Fuel Cell for Data Center Backup

Company: Honda
Installation Capacity: 500 kW
Applications: Supplying clean emergency backup power to a data center.
Source: Honda’s Zero Emission Stationary Fuel Cell Provides Back Up …

6. Ohio Data Center Microgrid

Company: Not specified
Installation Capacity: 400 kW hydrogen fuel cell
Applications: On-site power generation for Data Centers.
Source: Ohio Data Center Microgrid Launched as Proof of Concept

7. American Electric Power (AEP) and Bloom Energy

Company: AEP, Bloom Energy
Installation Capacity: 1 GW
Applications: Powering data centers.
Source: AEP, Bloom Energy 1-GW fuel cell deal to power data centers would …

8. Toyota and NREL Collaboration

Company: Toyota, NREL
Installation Capacity: 1 MW fuel cell generator
Applications: Carbon-free power for a data center.
Source: New Research Collaboration To Advance Megawatt-Scale … – NREL

9. Plug Power and Microsoft Partnership

Company: Plug Power and Microsoft
Installation Capacity: 3-Megawatt
Applications: Building a backup power generator pilot project prototype for Microsoft’s data centers
Source: Fuel Cell Applications 101: Where Are Fuel Cells Used Today?

10. ECL Debuts 1 GW Off-Grid Hydrogen-Powered ‘AI Factory’ Data Center

Company: ECL
Installation Capacity: 1 GW
Applications: Off-grid, hydrogen-powered modular data center that operates 24/7 with zero emissions.
Source: ECL Debuts 1 GW Off-Grid Hydrogen-Powered ‘AI Factory’ Data …

Table: PEMFC and Fuel Cell Projects for Data Center Applications

From Backup to Baseload: Fuel Cells Plug Into the Data Center Market

The diversity of applications signals a pivotal shift in the role of PEMFCs. Initially viewed as a clean replacement for diesel generators, their use is evolving from solely backup power to primary, 24/7 power. Microsoft’s projects with Plug Power and Ballard/Caterpillar focus on replacing traditional backup systems, a critical first step that leverages the fast-start capabilities of PEMFCs. However, companies like ECL are taking a radical leap forward, designing data centers powered entirely by hydrogen from the ground up. Their 1 MW facility and ambitious 1 GW “AI Factory” demonstrate a future where data centers can be located anywhere, completely independent of the traditional electric grid. This transition from intermittent backup to continuous baseload power is the most telling sign of growing confidence in the technology’s reliability and economic viability.

The American Proving Ground: Why the U.S. is Leading the Charge

A clear geographic pattern emerges from these landmark projects: the United States is the primary incubator for PEMFC adoption in data centers. From Microsoft’s corporate campuses to the Ohio Data Center Microgrid and ECL’s Texas-based “AI Factory,” the activity is concentrated in the U.S. This is no coincidence. The trend is fueled by the convergence of the world’s largest data center market, the aggressive sustainability goals of American tech giants like Microsoft, and the presence of key research institutions like NREL. Hyperscalers, with their immense capital and pressing need for scalable, green power, are acting as powerful market makers. This U.S.-centric development phase serves as a crucial proving ground, allowing for the refinement of technology, supply chains, and business models before a wider global rollout.

Megawatts and Microgrids: Scaling from Demo to Deployment

These installations reveal a technology rapidly maturing and scaling. The capacity spectrum ranges from smaller, proof-of-concept deployments like Honda’s 500 kW unit and the 400 kW Ohio microgrid to multi-megawatt systems. Microsoft’s 1.5 MW and 3 MW projects demonstrate commercial-scale viability for backup applications. The most dramatic evidence of maturity, however, lies at the top end. The planned 1 GW deployments from both ECL and the AEP/Bloom Energy partnership represent a monumental leap, moving fuel cells from a niche solution to a utility-scale power source. This jump from kilowatts to gigawatts in just a few years indicates that the core technology is proven, and the current focus is on system integration, manufacturing scale-up, and driving down costs for mass deployment. Furthermore, the partnership between Ballard (a fuel cell maker) and Vertiv (a power management leader) to create an integrated UPS product signals a move toward standardized, off-the-shelf solutions—a hallmark of mature technology.

Powering the AI Era: The Hydrogen-Fueled Future of Data

The trajectory is clear: PEMFCs are evolving from a novel concept into a cornerstone of sustainable digital infrastructure. These projects signal a future where data center power is decentralized, resilient, and carbon-free. The strategic shift from backup to primary power, led by pioneers like ECL, unlocks the ability to build massive computing facilities in new locations, free from the constraints of an aging grid. As the artificial intelligence boom places unprecedented strain on energy resources, the on-demand, scalable power of hydrogen fuel cells presents a compelling solution. We are witnessing the birth of a new industrial ecosystem—uniting tech giants, automotive leaders, energy utilities, and fuel cell specialists—to build the clean, silent, and powerful backbone of the AI era.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main advantage of using PEMFCs in data centers over traditional diesel generators?
The primary advantage is that PEMFCs provide reliable backup or primary power with zero carbon emissions, producing only water as a byproduct. This makes them a clean, silent, and sustainable alternative to the noisy, carbon-intensive diesel generators traditionally used for backup power.

Are these fuel cells only being used for backup power?
No, their role is expanding. While many initial projects, like Microsoft’s, focus on replacing diesel generators for backup power, companies like ECL are pioneering data centers that run 24/7 using hydrogen fuel cells as their primary power source, completely independent of the traditional electric grid.

Why are most of the projects mentioned in the article located in the United States?
The U.S. has become the main proving ground for this technology due to a combination of factors: it is the world’s largest data center market, it is home to tech giants like Microsoft with aggressive sustainability goals, and it has key research institutions like NREL. These large companies are driving demand and helping to mature the technology and its supply chain.

The article mentions project sizes from 400 kW to 1 GW. What does this huge jump in scale signify?
This rapid jump from smaller kilowatt-scale demonstration projects to massive gigawatt-scale deployments signifies that the core technology is now considered proven and reliable. The industry’s focus is shifting from proving the concept to scaling up manufacturing, integrating systems, and lowering costs for mass deployment as a utility-scale power source for the data center industry.

Who are the key types of companies involved in this shift to hydrogen power?
An entire ecosystem is forming to drive this trend. It includes tech giants and hyperscalers (Microsoft), specialized fuel cell manufacturers (Plug Power, Ballard), power management leaders (Vertiv), automotive companies applying their fuel cell expertise (Honda, Toyota), and energy firms (ECL, AEP).