Microsoft and ESB Partner on Green Hydrogen Pilot to Power Dublin Data Center

Microsoft partners with ESB to power its Dublin data center with green hydrogen, marking its first use of hydrogen fuel cells in Europe as part of its ambitious decarbonization goals.

Microsoft has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Ireland's state-owned energy company, ESB, to test green hydrogen as part of its clean energy initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of its rapidly growing data center operations. This pilot project will power Microsoft's data center in Dublin with zero-emission green hydrogen, marking a significant step toward the tech giant's ambitious carbon reduction goals.

Green Hydrogen Powers Microsoft’s Dublin Data Center

Under the new agreement, Microsoft's data center power control and administration building in Dublin will be powered by green hydrogen for the first time in Europe. ESB's hydrogen fuel cells will supply up to 250 kW of power over an eight-week period, showcasing green hydrogen as a viable alternative to traditional energy sources.

Combatting Growing Data Center Emissions

Microsoft’s efforts come amid rising emissions tied to its expanding data centers. While the company aims to be carbon negative by 2030 and reduce Scope 3 emissions by more than 50% compared to 2020, it has reported a 30% increase in these emissions over the past three years due to heightened demand for AI computing power.

The green hydrogen pilot aligns with Microsoft's "100/100/0" clean energy goal, where the company targets using 100% clean electricity, 100% of the time, by 2030.

A Move Towards Decarbonization

Lavinia Morris, General Manager of Microsoft’s EMEA Data Centre Operations, emphasized the significance of the pilot project: "This pilot project is another important step in our journey to transition to carbon-free electricity supply for our data centres, buildings, and campuses around the world. As we look to advance a more sustainable future, we hope to build on the success of this pilot project and continue to find innovative ways to decarbonise our operations."

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: A Green Energy Solution

Hydrogen is gaining traction as a key element in the transition to cleaner energy, especially in sectors with hard-to-abate emissions, such as data centers. ESB’s hydrogen fuel cells, which will replace diesel generators, convert stored green hydrogen to electricity without releasing carbon emissions or harmful pollutants. The only by-product is water, making this an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional power sources.

Microsoft’s Broader Clean Energy Strategy

This project is part of a broader push by Microsoft to address its emissions challenges. Over the past year, the company has signed several renewable energy deals, including a partnership with Brookfield to develop more than 10.5 GW of new clean energy capacity and an agreement with Constellation Energy to purchase nuclear power from a reactor in Pennsylvania.