AI is pushing data centre electricity demand sharply higher, potentially more than doubling by 2030 to around 845 TWh (IEA).
This rapid growth of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data-intensive services is placing unprecedented demands on data centre infrastructure. Operators are under pressure to secure increasing amounts of reliable power while maintaining the exceptionally high levels of uptime that modern digital services depend on. At the same time, grid constraints, rising energy costs and ambitious sustainability targets are forcing the industry to rethink how facilities are powered and protected against outages. As a result, data centres are actively exploring new technologies that can deliver resilient, scalable and lower-carbon power solutions.
So, what is the solution?
Hydrogen fuel cells can integrate with existing data centre infrastructure by connecting to the site’s electrical distribution system and working alongside grid power, UPS systems, batteries, switchgear and existing backup generation. They can be used for backup power, continuous on-site generation or as part of a microgrid, without requiring the data centre’s entire power infrastructure to be replaced.
This makes fuel cells particularly useful for data centres that need to increase power capacity or resilience while retaining existing systems. Modular solutions such as Intelligent Energy’s IE-GRID can also be scaled as demand grows, allowing additional fuel cell capacity to be introduced alongside existing infrastructure.
Where do fuel cells fit into a data centre power system?
A typical data centre is designed with multiple layers of electrical resilience, including grid connections, UPS systems, batteries, switchgear and diesel backup generators. Fuel cells can be integrated into this existing architecture as a reliable source of on-site power, complementing current systems rather than replacing them. Alternatively, they can be deployed as a zero-emission replacement for diesel generators, providing clean, dependable backup power while supporting decarbonisation goals.
Depending on the site, fuel cells may provide backup power during a grid outage, continuous on-site generation or additional power as part of a microgrid alongside batteries and renewable energy. This means operators do not necessarily need to choose between batteries, grid power and fuel cells. Instead, each technology can perform a different role within the same power system.
For example, a UPS battery can provide immediate power when the grid fails, while a fuel cell can then support the longer-duration load. This combination provides the rapid response required by critical IT equipment alongside a source of sustained on-site generation.
How fuel cells work with UPS and battery systems
UPS systems remain an important part of data centre infrastructure because servers cannot tolerate even very short interruptions in power. Fuel cells can complement these systems rather than replacing them.
A battery or UPS can respond immediately during a power interruption, while the fuel cell provides sustained power once it is operating. As long as an appropriate hydrogen supply is available, the fuel cell can continue generating electricity without needing to recharge in the same way as a battery.
This creates an opportunity to combine fast response with longer-duration resilience. It can also provide an alternative to relying solely on diesel generators for extended backup events, supporting the move towards cleaner power without removing the protection already built into the site.
Connecting fuel cells to existing electrical infrastructure
Fuel cells need to connect safely to the data centre’s existing electrical distribution system. This typically involves switchgear, power electronics and control systems that allow the fuel cell to operate alongside other energy sources on site.
The exact configuration will depend on the application. A system intended purely for backup power will have different integration requirements from one providing prime power or operating as part of a microgrid.
Modular fuel cell systems can make this process more flexible because generation capacity can be added gradually. For a growing data centre, additional power can therefore be introduced as server demand increases rather than requiring all future capacity to be installed from the outset. This modular approach is a key feature of Intelligent Energy’s IE-GRID.
Using fuel cells within a data centre microgrid
Hydrogen fuel cells can also form part of a wider microgrid that brings several energy sources together under one control system. A data centre microgrid might include grid electricity, batteries, renewable generation and hydrogen fuel cells, with controls managing how and when each source is used.
During normal operation, the facility may remain connected to the national grid. If the grid becomes unavailable, a suitably designed microgrid can disconnect, or ‘island’, and continue supplying critical loads from its on-site resources.
For data centres facing grid constraints, this approach can provide another way to improve resilience and increase access to local power. At Intelligent Energy, we have already deployed our first in-house containerised IE-GRID system within a microgrid environment at the University of Nottingham, demonstrating how hydrogen fuel cell technology can be incorporated into distributed energy infrastructure.
Supporting changing AI power demand
AI is also changing the way data centres consume electricity.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centres used about 1.5% of global electricity in 2024, a share that could double by 2030.
https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-and-ai
High-performance computing workloads can create rapidly changing power requirements, meaning data centre infrastructure needs to remain stable as demand rises and falls.
Hydrogen fuel cells can work as part of a hybrid system to help meet these requirements. Batteries can manage immediate changes and short-duration requirements, while fuel cells provide sustained on-site generation. Combined with the appropriate controls, this creates a more flexible power architecture that can draw on different resources depending on what the facility needs.
This becomes increasingly valuable as data centres expand their AI infrastructure while also facing limits on how much additional electricity they can obtain from the grid. Our article on how hydrogen fuel cells are addressing data centre power challenges in the age of AI explores this challenge in more detail.
Can fuel cells be installed without disrupting operations?
Any changes to the power infrastructure of an operational data centre need to be planned carefully around uptime. Fuel cell integration plans need to consider electrical interfaces, redundancy, commissioning, maintenance access and hydrogen supply alongside the facility’s existing operational requirements.
A modular deployment of hydrogen fuel cells can help with this process. Capacity can be installed and tested alongside the existing system before supporting critical loads, allowing operators to introduce fuel cell power in stages and expand the installation later if power requirements increase.
Why modular integration matters
Data centres rarely stay the same size for long. Server density, AI workloads and cooling requirements can all increase, so the supporting power infrastructure needs to be able to grow with them.
A modular fuel cell system allows operators to add generation capacity as requirements change rather than redesigning the entire power system every time demand rises. Intelligent Energy’s IE-GRID solution is designed around this approach, providing a containerised fuel cell system for applications including backup power, distributed generation, grid balancing and off-grid power.
For a broader look at the role hydrogen can play in data centre power, read can hydrogen fuel cells power data centres?
FAQs
Can hydrogen fuel cells be added to an existing data centre?
“Yes. Fuel cells can be integrated alongside existing grid connections, UPS systems, batteries, switchgear and other power infrastructure. The exact design will depend on the site and whether the fuel cell is intended for backup, prime power or microgrid use.”
Do fuel cells replace UPS batteries?
“Not necessarily. The technologies can complement each other, with batteries providing immediate short-duration power and fuel cells supporting sustained electricity generation.”
Can fuel cells replace diesel backup generators?
“Fuel cells can provide an alternative source of backup generation in suitable applications. With an appropriate hydrogen supply, they can provide extended power while producing zero harmful emissions at the point of use.”
Can fuel cells work with renewable energy?
“Yes. Fuel cells can be incorporated into microgrids alongside renewable generation and battery storage, allowing several energy sources to work together within the same system.”
How are fuel cells connected to a data centre?
“They can be integrated through the site’s electrical infrastructure, including switchgear, power electronics and control systems. The configuration will depend on the data centre and how the fuel cell is intended to operate.”
Do data centres need on-site hydrogen storage?
“The hydrogen supply needs to be considered as part of the installation. The amount and type of storage required will depend on factors including power demand, required runtime and how frequently the system will operate.”
Can fuel cell capacity grow with the data centre?
“Yes. Modular fuel cell systems can allow additional generation capacity to be installed as the site’s power requirements increase.”