What the development involves
In 2022, Microsoft tested 3 MW of backup power using PEM fuel cells running on hydrogen (Microsoft, July 28, 2022). Caterpillar launched a demonstration project for fuel cells as backup power at Microsoft (Caterpillar, November 22, 2021).
Bloom Energy has about 75 MW of solid oxide fuel cells in operation at Equinix, mainly as supplementary power generation and often running on natural gas (Bloom Energy, 2025).
What benefits are documented
Microsoft's trial was a prototype using blue hydrogen. Fuel cells running on natural gas are not fossil-free. Hydrogen logistics, costs and permits remain major obstacles.
What it could mean in Sweden
HVO in existing generators and larger battery systems are probably closer at hand for Swedish projects, but this needs to be investigated. The choice of backup power affects permitting, space requirements and the facility's climate profile.
What needs to be investigated
Which fuels can be approved at a given site. How much backup runtime customers require. How battery storage can reduce the need for generators, and when hydrogen becomes a realistic alternative.
Sources
- Microsoft: Hydrogen fuel cells could provide emission free backup power at datacenters, July 28, 2022
- Caterpillar: Demonstration project using hydrogen fuel cell technology for backup power at Microsoft data center, November 22, 2021
- Bloom Energy: Expands data center power agreement with Equinix, 2025
