氢燃料电池能作为数据中心吗（燃料电池在数据中心主备用电源方面的潜力评估）

燃料电池在数据中心主用和备用电源方面的潜力评估

Evaluating the Potential of Fuel Cells for Backup and Primary Data Center Power

译 者 说

近年来，数字经济发展速度之快，辐射范围之广、影响之深前所未有，正在成为重组全球要素资源，重塑全球经济结构，改变全球竞争格局的关键力量；这也直接导致数据中心数量越来越多，建设规模越来越大。截至目前，柴发依然是数据中心备用电源的首选，但是随着碳排放要求愈发严格，寻求新的零碳电源已迫在眉睫，新型燃料电池能否取代柴发作为数据中心备用电源，本文从原材料、经济性等方面进行了相关评估。

燃料电池和碳中和的数据中心

Fuel Cells and the Carbon-Neutral Data Center

容量增长已成为数据中心行业的一个持续挑战。尽管过去五年对新产能进行了大量投资，但仍需要更多的产能来持续支持企业和社会的数字化转型。Dell'Oro集团预计，未来五年，对超大规模数据中心的投资将翻番。

Capacity growth has become a constant challenge for the data center industry. Despite the massive investments in new capacity that have been made over the last five years, more capacity is required to support the continued digitalization of business and society. The Dell'Oro Group projects investments in hyperscale data centers to double in the next five years.

这种增长可能会推高数据中心的温室气体排放。尽管现在的设施效率很高，但它们本质上是能源密集型的。国际能源机构估计，2020年数据中心消耗的能源在200到250太瓦时 (TWh) 之间。其中大部分电力来自碳基燃料，这些范围2排放归于数据中心运营商。

That growth threatens to drive up the greenhouse gas emissions that can be attributed to data centers. Despite the efficiency of today’s facilities, they are inherently energy intensive. The International Energy Agency estimates that data centers consumed between 200 and 250 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy in 2020. Much of that electricity is generated from carbon-based fuels, which contribute to Scope 2 emissions for data center operators.

此外，大型数据中心依赖柴油发电机，他们增加了设施scope 1范围内的碳足迹。假设每月柴油发电机检测时，每千瓦时(kWh)消耗2升柴油，则向大气排放9.2公斤(kg)二氧化碳。

In addition, large data centers rely on diesel generators that add to a facility’s carbon footprint through Scope 1 emissions. Monthly diesel generator checks contribute 9.2 kilograms (kg) per kilowatt hour (kWh) of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, assuming 2 liters of diesel is consumed.

这促使许多运营商采取措施减少温室气体排放，尽自己的一份力量保护环境，并向客户、合作伙伴和利益相关者展示他们的承诺。几家超大规模的运营商已经设定了在十年内实现碳中和或无碳的目标，而托管运营商也在为客户提供碳中和的基础环境。

This has led many operators to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, doing their part to protect the environment and demonstrate their commitment to customers, associates and stakeholders. Several hyperscale operators have set goals of becoming carbon neutral or carbon negative by the end of this decade, and colocation operators are offering carbon-neutral environments to their customers.

许多设施都可以通过提高数据中心能效和设备利用率来减少碳排放。虽然这是必不可少的一步，但并不能使数据中心达到碳中和的目标。为了抵消对碳基燃料的依赖，运营商目前依赖于电力购买协议(PPAs)和可再生能源信用(RECs)。2021年，清洁能源PPAs较2020年增长24%，达到37.1GW的新高。

There is opportunity within many facilities to reduce emissions by increasing data center efficiency and equipment utilization. While an essential step, it does not get data centers to their carbon-neutral goals. To offset their dependence on carbon-based fuels, operators are currently relying on power purchase agreements (PPAs) and renewable energy credits (RECs). In 2021, clean energy PPAs grew 24% from 2020 to reach a new high of 37.1 gigawatts (GW).

亚马逊、微软和Meta这些超大规模的IDC运营商是所有行业里面购买这些协议（PPAs&RECs）的最大买家。但也有迹象表明，运营商正在寻求摆脱对PPAs的依赖。谷歌在2020年对PPAs的投资比其他任何组织都多，但在2021年减少了投资，因为它通过其他方法寻求无碳能源。

Hyperscalers Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta were the largest purchasers of these agreements across all industries. But there are also signs that operators are looking to wean themselves off PPAs. Google, which invested more than any other organization in PPAs in 2020, reduced its investment in 2021 as it seeks sources of carbon-free power through other methods.

许多运营商寻求的长期解决方案是直接用清洁能源为数据中心供电。然而，在可预见的未来，由于大多数地区的公用电网不太可能向所有客户提供100%的可再生能源，运营商有责任与合作伙伴合作，研发无碳运营的解决方案。

The long-term solution many operators are seeking is to power data centers directly with clean energy. However, with the utility grids in most regions unlikely to be able to provide 100% renewable power to all customers for the foreseeable future, the onus is on operators to work with their partners to develop solutions that enable carbon-free operation.

在许多数据中心站点，使用可再生太阳能或风能的本地能源发电是不现实的，而且可再生能源的间歇性给连续运营的数据中心带来了挑战。然而，在大多数现场环境中，使用可再生能源生产氢气确实代表了一个可行的解决方案。

Local energy generation using renewable solar or wind power isn’t practical at many data center sites, and the intermittency of renewable energy creates challenges for always-on data centers. However, Hydrogen produced using renewable energy does represent a viable solution for on-site energy generation at a wide range of sites.

这份白皮书研究了燃料电池技术的最新进展，这些技术提高了性能并降低了成本，例如氢动力燃料电池，它正在成为取代柴油发电机的备用电源的解决方案。它还说明了为什么从长远来看，燃料电池是零碳原始数据中心电力的有前途的解决方案。

This white paper examines recent advances in fuel cell technology that have improved performance and reduced costs such as hydrogen-powered fuel cells that are emerging as a solution to displace diesel generators for backup power. It also addresses why fuel cells represent a promising solution for zero-carbon primary data center power in the longer term.

了解燃料电池

Understanding Fuel Cells

燃料电池不是电池那样的能量储存设备。它们从燃料源和氧气产生的化学反应中产生电能。燃料电池最常见的燃料来源是氢气和天然气。当氢被用作燃料时，唯一的副产品是水和热。

Fuel cells aren’t energy storage devices like batteries. They generate electrical energy from chemical reactions created by a fuel source and oxygen. The most common fuel sources for fuel cells are hydrogen and natural gas. When hydrogen is used as a fuel source, the only byproducts are water and heat.

天然气与氢燃料电池

Natural Gas Versus Hydrogen Fuel Cells

天然气燃料电池可以在许多地区的天然气得以持续供应，得益于强大而成熟的生产和分销基础设施。天然气燃料电池相对清洁，但确实会产生一些温室气体排放。一些使用天然气的燃料电池制造商目前正在调整他们的设计，以增加燃料的灵活性，以适应多种应用。

Natural gas-powered fuel cells benefit from robust and mature production and distribution infrastructure that makes a continuous supply of natural gas available in many areas. Natural gas-powered fuel cells are relatively clean but do generate some greenhouse gas emissions. Some manufacturers of fuel cells that use natural gas are currently adapting their designs to increase fuel flexibility for multiple applications.

氢气因缺乏强大的分销网络使其生产能力受限，但人们正在努力改正这些限制。氢气的生产方式决定了氢燃料电池可以支撑真正的碳中和运营。

Hydrogen has more limited production capacity and lacks a robust distribution network, but efforts are underway to rectify these limitations. Hydrogen fuel cells can support true carbon-neutral operation, depending on how the hydrogen is produced.

现在大多数氢都是通过天然气的蒸汽重整、较重的碳氢化合物的部分氧化或煤炭气化从化石燃料中生产出来的。由于依赖化石燃料，通过这些方法生产的氢通常被称为“灰色氢”。该过程中产生的排放应考虑到燃料电池应用的环境足迹。氢也可以通过电解水从可再生能源中生产出来——被称为“绿色氢”，因为它在生产过程中不会产生温室气体排放。由于氢燃料电池不产生排放，使用绿色氢气为燃料电池提供动力可以实现零碳现场发电。

Most hydrogen today is produced from fossil fuels by steam reforming of natural gas, partial oxidation of heavier hydrocarbons, or coal gasification. Hydrogen produced through these methods is commonly referred to as “gray hydrogen” due to its reliance on fossil fuels. The emissions produced during the process should be factored into the environmental footprint of the fuel cell application. Hydrogen can also be produced from renewable energy through the electrolysis of water — referred to as “green hydrogen” because it does not generate greenhouse gas emissions during the production process. Since hydrogen fuel cells do not generate emissions, using green hydrogen to power fuel cells enables zero-carbon on-site energy generation.

由于缺乏氢分配网络，用于固定电力应用的燃料电池的氢很可能需要用卡车从生产地运输到使用和储存地。这使得使用氢燃料电池作为主要数据中心的动力在今天是不切实际的。但是，作为备用电源是可行的，因为可以在现场储存足够的氢气，以支持大型数据中心48小时的连续运行。

Due to the lack of a hydrogen distribution network, hydrogen used to power fuel cells in stationary power applications will likely need to be transported by truck from where it is produced to where it is being used and stored. This makes use of hydrogen fuel cells for primary data center power impractical today. It is, however, feasible for backup power, as enough hydrogen to support 48 hours of continuous operation for large data centers can be stored on site.

数据中心电源的燃料电池类型

Types of Fuel Cells for Data Center Power

与电池一样，燃料电池有多种类型，主要根据使用的电解质进行分类，这反过来又决定了燃料特性、工作温度、瞬态条件，并最终决定了系统的电气性能。对于数据中心应用，两种类型的燃料电池具有所需的特性:质子交换膜(PEM)和固体氧化物燃料电池(SOFC)。

As with batteries, there are multiple types of fuel cells available that are classified mainly by the electrolyte used, which in turn determines the fuel characteristics, operating temperatures, transient conditions, and ultimately, the electrical performance of the system. For data center applications, two types of fuel cells have the required characteristics: proton-exchange membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).

PEM燃料电池使用氢气作为燃料来源，其特点是采用固体聚合物电解质，提供高功率密度，比其他燃料电池占地面积更小。它们只需要空气中的氢和氧来发电，并在相对较低的温度(高达80摄氏度/176华氏度)下工作。

PEM fuel cells use hydrogen as their fuel source and feature a solid polymer electrolyte that delivers high power density that enables a smaller footprint than other fuel cells. They require only hydrogen and oxygen from the air to generate electricity and operate at relatively low temperatures (up to 80 degrees Celsius/176 degrees Fahrenheit).

因为它们不需要加热到其他类型的燃料电池所需的高温，它们可以快速启动，使它们适合于备用电源应用。PEM燃料电池确实需要像铂这样的贵金属催化剂来分离氢的电子和质子，这需要特殊的安全保护，因为它对人类有害。

Because they don’t have to heat up to the high temperatures required with other types of fuel cells, they can start quickly, making them suitable for backup power applications. PEM fuel cells do require a noble-metal catalyst such as platinum to separate the hydrogen's electrons and protons, which calls for special safety protections because it is hazardous to humans.

SOFC使用陶瓷化合物作为电解质。它们的工作温度比PEM燃料电池高得多(800-900摄氏度/ 1472 - 1652华氏度)，因为PEM燃料电池不需要贵金属催化剂，但增加了启动和关闭时间，使其更适合连续工作应用。它们在输入燃料方面也更加灵活，主要使用天然气，和一些能够处理纯氢的设施。SOFC可通过捕获和再利用操作过程中产生的热量进一步提高工作效率。它们的高工作温度需要有效的热防护来保持热量和保护人员。因为电池材料所承受的热应力会限制系统寿命中的开/关循环次数。

SOFCs use a ceramic compound as the electrolyte. They operate at much higher temperatures (800-900 C/1,472-1,652 F) than PEM fuel cells, which eliminates the need for a precious-metal catalyst, but it increases startup and shutdown times and makes them better suited for continuous duty applications. They are also more flexible in the input fuel, mainly using natural gas with some designs able to process pure hydrogen. SOFCs have a high operating efficiency that can be further increased by capturing and reusing heat generated duringoperation. Their high operating temperature requires significant thermal shielding to retain heat and protect personnel. This can limit the number of on/off cycles in the life of a system due to the thermal stress suffered by cell material.

燃料电池供能的数据中心

The Fuel Cell Powered Data Center

基于燃料电池技术的当前状态，以及数据中心关键电源技术的其他发展，可以设想未来燃料电池为数据中心提供清洁的一次和二次电源的状态。目前PEM燃料电池将提供备用电源，SOFC将用于主要电源。然而，在不是所有SOFC都能与纯氢一起工作的情况下，PEM燃料电池有潜力在这些情景下提供一次动力。

Based on the current state of fuel cell technology, as well as other evolutions in data center critical power technology, it’s possible to envision a future state in which fuel cells provide clean primary and secondary power to the data center. Today PEM fuel cells would provide backup power and SOFCs would be used for primary power. However, there is the potential for PEM fuel cells to provide primary power in the event not all SOFCs can be reconditioned to work with pure hydrogen.

Vertiv对燃料电池在数据中心的应用进行了广泛的研究，并参与了各种试点项目，重点是确保燃料电池能够满足数据中心对可靠性和性能的要求。

Vertiv has done extensive research into the application of fuel cells in data centers and is involved in multiple pilot projects focused on ensuring fuel cells can meet data center requirements for reliability and performance.

使用燃料电池作为数据中心备用电源

Using Fuel Cells for Data Center Backup Power

柴油发电机是当今数据中心范围1排放的重要来源，一些运营商正在积极寻求解决方案，以减少对柴发系统的依赖。一个潜在的解决方案是延长电池运行时间，使电池系统能够支持更长的停电时间。这可能适用于要求30分钟或更短时间内断电保护的运营商。由于所需电池系统的大小，对于需要在24或48小时内保持在线以满足服务级别协议或用户期望的数据中心来说，这是不现实的。还有一些有趣的技术正在开发中，例如线性发电机，这可能在未来的某个时候提供可行的解决方案。

Diesel generators are a significant source of Scope 1 emissions in today’s data centers, and some operators are actively seeking solutions to reduce their dependence on these systems. One potential solution is to extend battery runtimes to enable the battery system to support longer outages. This could work for operators that require 30 minutes or less of outage protection. Due to the size of the battery system that would be required, it will not be practical for data centers that need to stay online for outages of 24 or 48 hours to meet service

level agreements or user expectations. There are also some interesting technologies being developed, such as linear generators, which may provide viable solutions at some point in the future.

燃料电池是一种更加成熟和完善的解决方案，已经在运输、军事、海洋和其他应用中使用。此外，在过去五年中，燃料电池成本大幅下降，预计这一趋势将在未来持续下去。但是，尽管截至本文撰写之时，燃料电池已用于多种应用，但它们尚未应用于大型固定电力应用，如数据中心中的应用，这些应用确实存在一些技术挑战。

Fuel cells represent a more proven and established solution, having already been used in transportation, military, marine, and other applications. In addition, fuel cell costs have dropped significantly in the last five years, and that trend is expected to continue in the future. But while fuel cells are being used in multiple applications as of this writing, they have not been applied in large stationary power applications such as those that exist in data centers, and these applications do present some technical challenges.

具体来说，燃料电池对负载状态瞬间变化的响应相对较慢，因此，它们需要一种方法来消散多余的能量。这可以通过不间断电源(UPS)系统来实现。通过将燃料电池和UPS系统的锂离子电池并联配置，燃料电池可以将能量存储在电池系统中，从而消耗因负载变化而产生的多余能量。

Specifically, fuel cells are relatively slow to respond to load changes, creating transients, and therefore, they need a way to dissipate the excess energy. This can be accomplished through uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. By configuring the fuel cells and the UPS system’s lithium-ion batteries in parallel, the fuel cells can dissipate excess energy resulting from load changes by storing energy in the battery system.

通过这种配置，系统甚至不需要将负载切换到备用电源。相反，当停电发生时，系统将负载切换到电池上，电池由燃料电池持续充电，直到储存的氢气耗尽。UPS能源管理能力也将用于提高燃料电池的价值，实现峰值调峰和其他电网服务。以下是能够取代柴油发电机的数据中心备用电源解决方案的关键组件:

With this configuration, the system does not even have to transfer the load to the backup power source. Instead, the system transfers the load to the batteries when an outage occurs, and the batteries are continuously charged by the fuel cells until stored hydrogen is depleted. UPS energy management capabilities will also be used to increase fuel cell value by enabling peak shaving and other grid services. Here are the key components of a data center backup power solution capable of displacing a diesel generator:

氢气储存:在拖车中储存足够的氢气以支持所需的备份时间。为1兆瓦的设施提供48小时的备用电力大约需要4辆氢拖车。

Hydrogen storage: Enough hydrogen to support desired backup times is stored on site in trailers. Approximately four trailers of hydrogen are required to provide 48 hours of backup power for a 1 megawatt (MW) facility.

全封闭PEM燃料电池系统：PEM燃料电池模块可以将热管理、空气过滤和直流输出封装在一起输出到UPS和锂离子电池。大多数燃料电池也通过了在室内工作的认证，这就可以省去户外防护的成本。根据应用需求，燃料电池在不工作时可以处于空闲状态，这将导致大约一分钟的启动时间，或者可以保持在待机模式，以在几秒钟内提供全功率的瞬时启动。

Fully contained PEM fuel cell system: PEM fuel cell modules can be housed in an external enclosure with integrated thermal management, air filtration, and DC output to the UPS and lithium-ion batteries. Most fuel cells are also certified to work indoors, which could eliminate the cost of an external container. Depending on application requirements, the fuel cells can be idle when not operating, which will result in a startup time of about one minute, or can be kept in standby mode to provide instantaneous startup with full power within a few seconds.

锂离子电池UPS：UPS应具有控制燃料电池的能力，并集成有能够连续工作数小时的DC-to-DC变换器。当电池充满电时，额外的电池容量通常需要吸收从燃料电池耗散的能量。

UPS with lithium-ion batteries: The UPS should have the capability to control the fuel cells and feature an integrated DC-to-DC converter able to work continuously for several hours. Extra battery capacity is typically required to absorb energy dissipated from the fuel cells when the batteries are fully charged.

燃料电池在数据中心主电源中的应用

Using Fuel Cells for Primary Data Center Power

由于目前氢气分布的限制，使用燃料电池作为碳数据中心主电源的道路比作为备用电源应用的道路要漫长。但在这方面正在取得进展，天然气燃料电池可以作为一个过渡的解决方案，在扩大氢气分布的同时减少排放并带来其他好处。

The path to using fuel cells as a source of primary, zero-carbon data center power is longer than that of backup power applications, due largely to the current limitations of hydrogen distribution. But progress is being made on this front, and natural gas-powered fuel cells can be used as a bridge solution that reduces emissions and delivers other benefits while hydrogen distribution is being expanded.

Vertiv是由燃料电池和氢能2联合项目资助的项目的一部分，该项目得到了欧盟地平线2020研究和创新计划、氢能欧洲和氢能欧洲研究的支持。该项目正在试点使用天然气作为动力的SOFCs作为本地边缘数据中心的主要电源，以减少这些站点的环境影响，并为数据中心的燃料电池应用制定权威的开放标准。

Vertiv is part of a project funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking with support from European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, Hydrogen Europe, and Hydrogen Europe Research. This undertaking is piloting the use of natural gas-powered SOFCs as the primary source of power for hyperlocal edge data centers to reduce the environmental impact of these sites and advance an authoritative open standard for fuel cell applications in data centers.

在这种应用场景中，SOFCs作为主用电源，电网与锂离子电池一起提供备用电源。与备用电源应用一样，UPS最终将控制电池和燃料电池之间的接口，管理燃料电池设定值和瞬态产生的多余功率。未来，UPS可以充当能源管理者调节多种电源，包括公用电网、燃料电池和备用发电机（如果有的话）；根据成本、可靠性和其他因素不断选择最佳来源；以及管理电源之间的转换。

In this application, the SOFCs serve as the main source of power with the grid providing backup power in conjunction with lithium-ion batteries. As with backup power applications, the UPS will eventually control the interface between the batteries and fuel cells, managing fuel cell set points and excess power from transients. In the future, the UPS could act an energy manager by coordinating multiple power sources, including utility, fuel cells, and a backup generator, if one exists; continually selecting the best source based on cost, reliability, and other factors; and managing transitions between sources.

虽然这项工作侧重于数据中心集群，但这些经验有望推动使用天然气动力的SOFCs作为大型数据中心的主要电源相关的进展。随着氢的成本下降和可用性提高，SOFCs可以转换为氢动力，实现碳中和的运营。

While this undertaking is focused on hyperlocal data centers, its learnings are expected to advance progress related to using natural gas-powered SOFCs as a primary power source for large data centers. As hydrogen drops in cost and becomes more available, SOFCs can be transitioned to hydrogen power, enabling carbon-neutral operation.

评估燃料电池作为数据中心备用电源的可行性

Evaluating the Feasibility of Fuel Cells for Data Center Backup Power

从技术角度来看，由智能UPS系统正确管理的燃料电池具有为数据中心提供清洁、可靠的备用电源所需的性能特征。根据目前的试点项目，预计未来几年将PEM燃料电池解决方案用于数据中心备用电源的商业化并非不合理。

From a technical perspective, fuel cells that are properly managed by an intelligent UPS system have the performance characteristics required to provide clean, reliable backup power for data centers. Based on current pilot projects, it isn’t unreasonable to expect commercialization of PEM fuel cell solutions for data center backup power in the next several years.

然而，这些解决方案还需要证明其具有低成本高效益，以便在行业中获得广泛支持。这并不一定意味着它们必须比柴油发电机更便宜，因为它们减少范围1排放的潜力是有实际价值的，如果碳成本增加，未来这一价值可能会增加。此外，燃料电池带来的新功能，如调峰，也增加了价值。

However, these solutions will also need to demonstrate they can be cost-effective in order to achieve widespread support in the industry. That doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be less expensive than diesel generators, as there is real value in their potential to reduce Scope 1 emissions and that value may increase in the future if the cost of carbon increases. In addition, new capabilities enabled by fuel cells, such as peak shaving, also add value.

目前很难预测商业化PEM燃料电池解决方案的寿命成本，因为燃料电池模块和氢燃料的成本是动态的，预计在未来几年会下降。

It is difficult to project lifetime costs for a commercialized PEM fuel cell solution today, as costs for the fuel cell modules and the hydrogen fuel are dynamic and expected to drop in the coming years.

美国政府正在大力降低美国的氢成本。能源部（DOE）能源地球发射计划于2021年6月启动，旨在到10年内将清洁氢的成本降低到每公斤1美元。以下是可能影响数据中心采用燃料电池作为备用电源的关键经济因素

There is a significant effort by the United States government to drive down hydrogen costs through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Earthshot Initiative. Launched in June 2021, this initiative seeks to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen to $1/kg by the end of this decade. Following are the key economic factors that could influence adoption of fuel cells as a backup power source in data centers:

• 资本支出：如今，PEM燃料电池需要比相对容量的柴油发电机更大的资本投资。我们的研究表明，PEM燃料电池的价格在1800美元至2000美元/千瓦之间，而柴油发电机的价格约为450美元/千瓦。随着燃料电池成本的下降，这一差距有望缩小，但当商业解决方案首次面世时，这一缺口可能不会达到同等水平。
• Capital expense: Today, PEM fuel cells require a larger capital investment than a comparative capacity diesel generator. Our research shows PEM fuel cells to range from $1,800-$2,000/kW compared to about $450/kW for a diesel generator. This gap is expected to close as fuel cell costs drop, but it may not reach parity when commercial solutions are first available.

• 燃料成本：燃料成本因需求和地区而异。氢燃料成本目前在4.84美元至6.68美元/千克之间。在美国，一加仑柴油的平均成本为3.29美元，柴油提供的能量略高于一公斤氢。如果美国能源部的“地球发射计划”（Earthshot Initiative）接近其目标，那么在系统的使用寿命内，氢的价格将低于柴油。
• Fuel costs: Fuel costs are variable based on demand and region. Hydrogen fuel costs currently range from $4.84 to $6.68/kg. In the U.S., the average cost for a gallon of diesel, which provides slightly more energy than a kilogram of hydrogen, is $3.29. If the DOE’s Earthshot Initiative comes even close to its target, hydrogen will be less expensive than diesel over the life of a system.

• 效率：与柴油发电机相比，两种类型的燃料电池都显示出更高的效率，特别是SOFCs。此外，柴油发电机使用交流电（AC）运行，这会降低效率。另外，使用直流电(DC)的燃料电池可以提高整个系统的效率。通过消除交流电源的使用，运营商可能会看到成本和可持续性的好处。y维护：燃料电池中使用的电化学过程比发电机中使用的机械过程需要更少的维护。
• Efficiency: Compared to diesel generators, both types of fuel cells are showing higher efficiency, especially SOFCs. Moreover, diesel generators operate using alternating current (AC) that is subject to switching, which can diminish efficiency. Alternatively, fuel cells that use direct current (DC) to the UPS improve the overall system efficiency. By eliminating this use of AC power, operators are likely to see cost and sustainability benefits. y Maintenance: The electro-chemical processes used in fuel cells require less maintenance than the mechanical processes used in generators.

• 操作灵活性:由于PEM燃料电池可以由UPS控制，因此可以实现柴油发电机所不具备的新能源管理功能，从而节省能源成本。
• Operating flexibility: Because PEM fuel cells can be controlled by the UPS, they enable new energy management capabilities that aren’t available with diesel generators, creating savings on energy costs.
• 监管政策:一些地方制定了限制或禁止使用内燃机发电的法规。想要扩展到这些地区的运营商需要寻找其他方法来保持停电期间的连续性，而燃料电池解决方案应该比其他方案更有利。
• Regulatory environment: Some localities have created regulations that restrict or ban the use of internal combustion engines for power generation. Operators seeking to expand into these areas will need to find alternate approaches to maintaining continuity during outages, and fuel cell solutions should compare favorably to the alternatives.

燃料电池取代或补充柴油发电机的初步应用可能是由在碳减排方面处于领先地位的超大规模运营商推动的。然而，随着它们的发展，燃料电池将成为不同类型和规模数据中心都渴望的解决方案。

Initial application of fuel cells to displace or supplement diesel generators is likely to be driven by hyperscale operators who have taken a leading position on carbon reduction. However, as they advance, fuel cells will become a more attractive solution for a range of data center types and sizes.

结论

Conclusion

为了实现持续增长，同时减少对环境的影响，数据中心运营商正在探索碳基电网和柴油发电机的替代方案。燃料电池是帮助运营商实现碳中和目标的最有前途的解决方案之一。PEM燃料电池使用清洁氢气，可以消除发电机每月检查和停电期间的二氧化碳排放。PEM燃料电池目前正在这方面的应用中进行试点，并可能在未来几年内投入商业应用。

To enable continued growth while simultaneously reducing environmental impact, data center operators are exploring alternatives to carbon-based grid power and diesel generators. Fuel cells are among the most promising solutions for enabling operators to achieve their carbon-neutral goals. Using clean hydrogen, PEM fuel cells can eliminate CO2 emissions from monthly generator checks and operation during outages. PEM fuel cells are being piloted today in this application and could be available in commercial solutions in the next several years.

天然气燃料电池正在作为边缘数据中心的主用电力来源进行试点，从该试点中获得的经验教训将有助于在大型数据中心推进该技术的使用。随着氢气生产商和政府对氢气生产和分配的投资增加，这些燃料电池可以转化为氢气，实现无碳运行。

Natural gas-powered fuel cells are being piloted as a primary source of power for edge data centers, and learnings from this pilot will help advance use of this technology in large data centers. As hydrogen producers and governments invest more in hydrogen production and distribution, these fuel cells can be converted to hydrogen to enable carbon-free operation.

如今，那些重视减少碳排放的组织正在推动燃料电池的应用。从成本的角度来看，燃料电池目前还不能与柴油发电机或电网发电竞争。但关键部件和氢燃料的成本预计将在未来几年下降，缩小差距，使燃料电池成为切实可行的、经济上可行的数据中心电源解决方案 。

Efforts to implement fuel cells today are being driven by organizations that place a premium on reducing carbon emissions. From a cost perspective, fuel cells are not currently competitive with diesel generators or grid power. But costs of key components and hydrogen fuel are expected to decline in the coming years, closing the gap and making fuel cells a viable and economically feasible data center power solution.

Vertiv通过提供关键基础设施解决方案，推动燃料电池在数据中心应用中的使用，从而实现燃料电池的有效使用，并支持其他功能，如调峰、可再生能源的使用和电网服务，在推动燃料电池在数据中心应用中的使用方面发挥着主导作用。

Vertiv is taking a leading role in advancing the use of fuel cells in data center applications by delivering critical infrastructure solutions that enable the effective use of fuel cells and support additional functionality, such as peak shaving, use of renewables, and grid services.

深 知 社

翻译：

李要铭

DKV（DeepKnowledge Volunteer）计划精英成员

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