Microsoft: Our In-Rack Data Center Fuel Cell Concept Works
Data Center Dynamics, February 7, 2014Microsoft and a California university have managed to successfully power a 12kW rack of servers by a fuel cell installed in the rack itself, eliminating droves of electrical infrastructure equipment and demonstrating a dramatic improvement in energy efficiency as a result.
Efficiency of the power chain, from the fuel cell to the server, went from about 40% to more than 53%, compared to running a regular centralized fuel cell plant outside the computer room, since the energy went through fewer conversion steps.