Jun 19, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Equinix has launched its first trial of hydrogen fuel cell technology as a replacement for diesel backup generation at a data center in Ireland. Working with ESB and GeoPura, the company has deployed two hydrogen-powered generators at its DB3 Data Center facility. The 12-week trial will support cooling operations, and Equinix said the project has already helped reduce the site's power usage effectiveness (PUE) to below 1.3.
The trial is assessing hydrogen-powered generators as an alternative to diesel and gas backup systems. Powered by green hydrogen and using PEM fuel cell technology, the units provide 250–500kW of continuous power and include 216kWh of battery storage. According to GeoPura, the technology can be scaled to deliver up to 50MW for backup or primary power applications.
“As demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow, operators are facing increasing pressure to secure reliable power, reduce emissions, and minimize the impact on local communities. This trial shows how hydrogen can help address those challenges today. By combining hydrogen fuel cell technology with battery systems and uninterruptible power capabilities, we’re delivering reliable zero direct onsite-emission power that can respond instantly when required,” said Andrew Cunningham, CEO, GeoPura.
Peter Lantry, managing director of Equinix Ireland, said: “This is a landmark research project that could be part of the solution to Ireland’s grid constraints and the challenge of accessing clean energy. Ireland is already making serious moves on hydrogen and how it can be stored at scale here. What we're doing with ESB is a different piece of the same puzzle: proving that hydrogen can work as a practical, zero direct onsite emissions alternative to diesel and gas in a live environment. If this pilot delivers what we expect, it adds real momentum to Ireland’s decarbonization story.”
