
Demonstration marks important progress towards offering information facilities with dependable and sustainable backup energy with hydrogen know-how
IRVING, Texas, Jan. 19, 2024 – Caterpillar Inc. introduced the success of its collaboration with Microsoft and Ballard Energy Programs to reveal the viability of utilizing large-format hydrogen gas cells to produce dependable and sustainable backup energy for information facilities. The demonstration offered priceless insights into the capabilities of gas cell techniques to energy multi-megawatt information facilities, making certain uninterrupted energy provide to satisfy 99.999% uptime necessities.
The demonstration was performed in a difficult setting and validated the hydrogen gas cell energy system’s efficiency at 6,086 ft (1,855 m) above sea degree and in below-freezing circumstances. The challenge simulated a 48-hour backup energy occasion at Microsoft’s information heart in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the place a hydrogen gas cell was built-in into an information heart electrical plant to assist its essential load. A Caterpillar Microgrid Controller was used to function two Cat® Energy Grid Stabilization (PGS) 1260 battery vitality storage techniques together with the 1.5 MW hydrogen gas cell.
Caterpillar led the challenge, offering the general system integration, energy electronics, and microgrid controls that type the central construction of the hydrogen energy resolution. “This profitable collaboration with Microsoft and Ballard demonstrates the potential of hydrogen gas cells to assist information facilities deal with their essential energy wants whereas lowering their emissions,” stated Jaime Mineart, senior vp of Caterpillar Electrical Energy.
“This challenge’s success gives a chance for hyperscale suppliers to drive improvements within the sustainability of energy era applied sciences,” stated Sean James, senior director of knowledge heart analysis at Microsoft. “The analysis and findings of the hydrogen gas cell demonstration will assist us in the direction of our aim of changing into carbon unfavorable by 2030.”
The challenge is supported and partially funded by the U.S. Division of Power Hydrogen and Gas Cell Applied sciences Workplace (DOE) underneath the H2@Scale initiative, which brings stakeholders collectively to advance reasonably priced hydrogen manufacturing, transport, storage and utilization in a number of vitality sectors. In the course of the demonstration, the DOE’s Nationwide Renewable Power Laboratory (NREL) analyzed security, techno-economics, and greenhouse fuel (GHG) impacts.
“We see the completion of this demonstration as an necessary proof level of the reliability and sturdiness of Ballard’s gas cells in offering zero-emission backup energy for information facilities,” stated David Mucciacciaro, Chief Industrial Officer of Ballard Energy Programs. “We’re excited concerning the means of our merchandise to satisfy the essential energy wants of knowledge heart prospects on this quickly rising sector.”
Demonstrated Management in Hydrogen-Fueled Energy Options
Caterpillar, together with its world Cat vendor community, helps prospects meet uptime commitments at 1000’s of knowledge heart amenities worldwide, providing extremely responsive energy options and experience, together with specification, set up, commissioning and repair.
Caterpillar’s hydrogen-fuel energy applied sciences embrace a spread of commercially accessible energy options able to working pure fuel blended with as much as 25% hydrogen by quantity. In addition they have a challenge with Minnesota-based District Power St. Paul to reveal a hydrogen-fueled mixed warmth and energy (CHP) system.
Along with energy options utilizing hydrogen and different fuels to assist scale back carbon emissions, Caterpillar gives a broad portfolio of merchandise to assist prospects obtain their climate-related targets. These embrace Distributed Power Useful resource Administration System (DERMS) software program options for monitoring, managing and monetizing on-site vitality property, a full hybrid vitality options know-how suite, Cat CHP techniques and mixed cooling, heating, and energy (CCHP) techniques, and techniques that may function on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biodiesel, and blended gas merchandise.
###
About Caterpillar
With 2022 gross sales and revenues of $59.four billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s main producer of development and mining gear, off-highway diesel and pure fuel engines, industrial fuel generators and diesel-electric locomotives. For practically 100 years, we have been serving to prospects construct a greater, extra sustainable world and are dedicated and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our progressive services, backed by our world vendor community, present distinctive worth that helps prospects succeed. Caterpillar does enterprise on each continent, principally working by means of three major segments – Building Industries, Useful resource Industries and Power & Transportation – and offering financing and associated companies by means of our Monetary Merchandise section. Go to us at caterpillar.com or be a part of the dialog on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/information/social-media.html.
CAT, CATERPILLAR, LET’S DO THE WORK, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Company Yellow,” the “Energy Edge” and Cat “Fashionable Hex” commerce gown, in addition to company and product id used herein, are emblems of Caterpillar and is probably not used with out permission.
©2024 Caterpillar
All Rights Reserved
Acknowledgement: This materials relies upon work supported by the U.S. Division of Power’s Workplace of Power Effectivity and Renewable Power (EERE) underneath the Hydrogen and Gas Cell Applied sciences Workplace, H2@Scale Initiative, Award Quantity DEEE0009252. The views expressed herein don’t essentially signify the views of the U.S. Division of Power or the USA Authorities.