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Big Tech looks to fuel cells to power AI data centers
Fuel cells can generate electricity without combustion and run on fuels like hydrogen, natural gas, and biogas, offering faster distributed power as data center demand strains grids.
OilPrice reports that large U.S. technology companies are contracting with fuel cell developers and providers to supply power for data and AI computing centers.
The outlet says fuel cells generate electricity by converting chemical energy directly into electrical energy without combustion, and the systems can run on hydrogen, natural gas, or biogas.
OilPrice links the move to rising power demand from the AI boom, noting that grid congestion could make distributed generation more practical than waiting for conventional gas-fired power plant permitting and construction.
The piece also cites Goldman Sachs Research, saying fuel cells could let companies bring low-carbon electricity online relatively quickly, and it adds that Goldman Sachs Research described data center power demand growth as energy’s most important incremental use since the industrial revolution.
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