Honda and Mitsubishi will test a fuel cell-powered data center in Japan

[Alfonso Maruccia]

In a nutshell: Fuel cells, used as an alternative energy source in the automotive industry, convert the chemical energy of a fuel, typically hydrogen, and an oxidizing agent (oxygen) into electricity. Japan boasts a substantial fleet of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) on its roads, a factor Mitsubishi intends to leverage in its latest experiment aimed at developing an environmentally sustainable energy infrastructure.

Mitsubishi recently announced a joint demonstration for a new-generation data center, a plant designed to use a stationary fuel cell (FC) power station as its main energy source. The company will partner with Honda and Tokuyama Corporation, exploring the feasibility of an FC-based power source in the face of further increase in power demand for data centers crunching larger volumes of data.

The project will be held in the city of Shunan, Mitsubishi said, where Tokuyama has run an electrolysis plant since 1952. Tokuyama will provide the hydrogen extracted as by-product of its saltwater electrolysis business, while Honda will develop the power station by reusing fuel cells removed from its electric vehicles.

The innovative data center was proposed by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), a Japanese organization which promotes research, development and adoption of innovative hydrogen-based energy sources. The joint project should begin on March 31, running for two years until March 31, 2026.

FCEVs are a potential alternative to battery-powered vehicles, though they don't provide the same energy efficiency. Honda has already tested retired hydrogen fuel cells repurposed as a data center backup energy source in California, while the new Japan project aims to build a stationary power plant that could work both as a backup and a primary energy source.

Mitsubishi didn't provide any details about the data center infrastructure the company will manage in Shunan, so the amount of energy provided by the FC-based power plant is currently unknown. Hydrogen is considered a clean fuel as it only produces water as a by-product of a fuel cell's electrochemical reaction.

Commercially produced hydrogen is extracted from methane gas with an energy-intensive process based on fossil fuels, which is likely the same technology employed by Tokuyama in its saltwater electrolysis plant. Mitsubishi's project should at least be useful in demonstrating the feasibility of an effective integration of hydrogen and exhausted fuel cells into the energy business.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/101415-honda-mitsubishi-test-fuel-cell-powered-data-center.html

 

[Mr Majestyk]

And how exactly is the hydrogen for the fuel cell being produced? It's not decarbonizing anything if the fuel is made from the usual sources like 95% of hydrogen. This sounds like another greenwashing campaign if they are not committing to green hydrogen.

 

[Freddie159]

And how exactly is the hydrogen for the fuel cell being produced? It's not decarbonizing anything if the fuel is made from the usual sources like 95% of hydrogen. This sounds like another greenwashing campaign if they are not committing to green hydrogen.

For me the key is to find a market for the Hydrogen then work on ways of greening the making the hydrogen. Amazon had a story a week ago maybe about using hydrogen in their forlifts made by eletric panels at the factory. I don't know how much actual Hydrogen is being used in the World today but if they can find a sustainable use for it then the next step is to green the process of making it. Kind of like them bringing swappable batteries to the HUGE dump trucks used at mines.

 

[Lounds]

If you wanted to fill a Petrol/Gas station with the same amount of fuel but with hydrogen you would require 18 trucks for 1 truck normally. Hydrogen for transportation is a pipe dream. Also adding Hydrogen to Methane (Natural Gas) just dilutes it and makes it less efficient as a heating source.
The future is no hydrogen as it's too costly to store and transport.

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

If you wanted to fill a Petrol/Gas station with the same amount of fuel but with hydrogen you would require 18 trucks for 1 truck normally. Hydrogen for transportation is a pipe dream. Also adding Hydrogen to Methane (Natural Gas) just dilutes it and makes it less efficient as a heating source.
The future is no hydrogen as it's too costly to store and transport.

Not likely... why be a nay-sayer? By weight petrol and compressed hydrogen have similar energy densities, but by volume petrol is superior. The few hydrogen production cars out there have very similar ranges compared to petrol counterparts. There are even a couple companies working on hydrogen fueled aircraft.

There is still advances to be made and techniques to be improved. Hydrogen fueled transport vehicles especially for long haul makes a lot more sense than batteries. Yes petrol is superior but the idea behind switching is to get away from burning combustibles. There is still a long way to go in order to make "green" hydrogen, but it can be done. I don't see why in the next 50 years hydrogen couldn't entirely replace petrol at least in the transportation sector.

 

[Lounds]

Not likely... why be a nay-sayer? By weight petrol and compressed hydrogen have similar energy densities, but by volume petrol is superior. The few hydrogen production cars out there have very similar ranges compared to petrol counterparts. There are even a couple companies working on hydrogen fueled aircraft.

There is still advances to be made and techniques to be improved. Hydrogen fueled transport vehicles especially for long haul makes a lot more sense than batteries. Yes petrol is superior but the idea behind switching is to get away from burning combustibles. There is still a long way to go in order to make "green" hydrogen, but it can be done. I don't see why in the next 50 years hydrogen couldn't entirely replace petrol at least in the transportation sector.

Or listen to someone who understands the science and production of hydrogen.
See below:

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

Or listen to someone who understands the science and production of hydrogen.
See below:

I've already watched that, it is a good video... but it is based on our current situation and not really looking at the possibilities the future could bring us. Scientists much more intelligent than you and I are working to make things better, more efficient. Like solar panels, electrolyzers, fuel cells. Over the next 50-100 years they could get those efficiencies up to the point where we can create enough hydrogen on site at fuel stations to meet the needs of FC vehicles coming through. Now maybe it will never be enough for ALL vehicles in the road, but it might be enough for battery-hydrogen hybrid vehicles, which may very well become a thing.

In the end, who cares how effecient it is as long is it is truly green and meets our needs? Is it possible now with hydrogen? Not even close... Will it be possible in 100 years time? Quite possibly I think.