Data and the hydrogen economy

The recent pandemic has highlighted the importance of data centres as part of the critical infrastructure that supports the growing digital economy. There is no sign of this growth slowing with greater adoption of technologies such as cloud, smart technologies and 5G deployment having increased the need for data storage and processing. However, data centre operators face a significant and growing challenge in addressing their energy consumption and reducing their carbon footprint for sustainable growth. As an energy source, hydrogen has distinct advantages – it is the most abundant element in the universe and has the highest energy per mass of any fuel by weight. However, for hydrogen to truly be a green fuel, it must be produced in a way that does not result in carbon emissions, which would otherwise negate the carbon savings.