Microsoft for 48 hours runs a data center on hydrogen fuel cells


By MYBRANDBOOK


Microsoft for 48 hours runs a data center on hydrogen fuel cells

Microsoft has revealed that it ran racks full of servers for 48 hours using electricity generated by hydrogen fuel cells, but the company’s aspiration to use the tech again needs careful scrutiny.

 

According to company,  the cells used proton exchange membrane technology that output 250KW to run “a row of datacenter servers for 48 consecutive hours.”

 

That may actually be a modest claim as big data centres budget to pipe around 5KW to a typical rack full of kit. Higher consumption is of course possible as servers and storage become ever-denser and cooling improves. But 25KW is not enough to run a whole data centre, hence Microsoft saying its next test will involve a 3Mw fuel cell rig in an effort to apply the tech at a larger scale.

 

Microsoft thinks that hydrogen fuel cells can eventually replace the diesel generators it uses as emergency backups at its bit barns, and reckons it kick its hydrocarbon habit by the year 2030 with fuel cells that run the 48 hours required to deliver five nines operations.

 

Microsoft admits it would need plenty of the gas its post says 48 hours of fuel cell operation needs 100,000kg of the stuff on hand to deliver five nines reliability.

 

Also worth considering is that Microsoft’s photo of the fuel cells pictures three substantial units that together occupy plenty of what looks like a car park. Diesel generators may make CO2, but do have the virtue of being small enough to house inside a data centre’s walls.

 E-Magazine 
 VIDEOS  Placeholder image

Copyright www.mybrandbook.co.in @1999-2024 - All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Kalinga Digital Media Pvt. Ltd. is prohibited.
Other Initiatives : www.varindia.com | www.spoindia.org