Microsoft Partners with ESB to Power Dublin Data Center with Green Hydrogen

Microsoft has announced a groundbreaking partnership with ESB to power its Dublin data center with zero-emission green hydrogen, marking the first use of hydrogen fuel cells for a Microsoft data center in Europe. The pilot project will supply up to 250kW of clean energy to Microsoft’s Dublin campus for eight weeks, showcasing the potential of hydrogen in decarbonizing the critical data center sector in Ireland.

The Role of Green Hydrogen in Powering Data Centers

The innovative pilot leverages ESB’s zero-emission Hydrogen Fuel Cells, which convert stored green hydrogen into electricity with water as the only by-product. Unlike diesel generators, hydrogen fuel cells produce no carbon emissions or harmful air pollutants like sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides, offering a cleaner and healthier energy solution.

Eoin Doherty, Vice President at Microsoft Cloud Operations + Innovation, highlighted the importance of this initiative:

"The green hydrogen project we’re launching with ESB is a pioneering first for Microsoft in Europe, demonstrating how zero-emissions hydrogen can be harnessed to power our digital lives. If scaled successfully, it could provide new ways of advancing sustainability in our sector and beyond."

Advancing Decarbonization Efforts

The pilot is part of ESB’s ongoing efforts to demonstrate hydrogen fuel cell versatility across power applications. According to Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director, Generation and Trading:

"Green hydrogen will play an important role in the net-zero energy system of the future. We’re delighted to be working with Microsoft on this innovative project to showcase the potential of green hydrogen as part of zero-emission electricity generation for data centers."

Microsoft’s Sustainability Goals

Microsoft’s hydrogen fuel cell pilot aligns with its broader commitment to sustainability, which includes being carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030. The company has already made significant strides, including investments in renewable energy projects generating over 900 MW of wind and solar power in Ireland, contributing to the Irish Government’s 2030 corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) targets.

A Vision for the Future of Sustainable Data Centers

As Microsoft continues to innovate in hydrogen energy and renewable power solutions, the Dublin pilot serves as a stepping stone toward creating a greener and more sustainable digital future. Lavinia Morris, General Manager of Microsoft’s EMEA Data Centre Operations, emphasized:

"This pilot project is another important step in our journey to transition to carbon-free electricity for our data centers, buildings, and campuses worldwide."