A new project led by Honda and Mitsubishi aims to investigate the viability of powering a datacenter using fuel cells taken from electric vehicles (EVs). The two-year project, set to begin on March 31 in Shunan City, Japan, seeks to assess the potential reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by operating a “distributed datacenter” fueled by repurposed fuel cells from EVs.
The hydrogen needed for the fuel cell power station will be supplied by Tokuyama Corporation, which produces hydrogen as a byproduct of its salt water electrolysis business. Through this collaboration, the project hopes to find ways to reduce costs associated with installing and running stationary fuel cell systems, ultimately contributing to the decarbonization of the electric power supply.
The exact details of the datacenter infrastructure that Mitsubishi will operate are undisclosed, leaving the power requirements of the fuel cell power station unknown. However, hydrogen and fuel cells have gained attention in recent years as potential greener power alternatives for datacenters. Hydrogen can be considered a clean fuel as it only produces water as a byproduct when consumed in a fuel cell.
While sourcing hydrogen remains a challenge due to current reliance on fossil fuels, the project led by Honda and Mitsubishi intends to evaluate the feasibility of integrated hydrogen business models. Furthermore, the project will explore the potential for fuel cells to be used as both primary and backup power sources in datacenters, as well as their application in grid-balancing.
The findings from this project could have significant implications for the adoption of fuel cell technology in the datacenter industry. Honda and Mitsubishi hope to leverage the knowledge gained to expand the number of environmentally friendly datacenters in the region and explore business opportunities for the technology beyond.