INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Data Centers

Equinix and National University of Singapore College of Design and Engineering explore the viability of hydrogen for sustainable data center power generation .

Equinix and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Center for Energy Research and Technology ( CERT ) – under the College of Design and Engineering ( CDE ) at the National University of Singapore ( NUS ) – have announced to results of their green hydrogen fuel technology study .

The study is 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 .

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 nonrenewable backup fuel sources .

Yee May Leong , Managing Director , South Asia , Equinix said : “ This 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 .”

Associate Professor Lee Poh Seng , Director , Center 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 . 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 that could be applied globally .”

In 2022 , Equinix invested US $ 45 million toward energy efficiency projects globally , resulting in associated annual energy consumption reduction of approximately 69,000 megawatt hours and a 5.5 % year-on-year reduction in power usage effectiveness ( PUE ) – reaching a global annual average of 1.46 .

In 2021 , Equinix became the first data center company globally to commit to being climate neutral by 2030 for its entire global footprint aligned with an approved near-term sciencebased target . p

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