深度访谈：氢能数据中心的优缺点
Closer Look: Hydrogen as an Energy Source for Data Centers
March 29, 2023
当前，能源依然是我们数据中心永远的需求，解决能源的问题依然是一个非常宏大的问题，对于数据中心而言，变革能源的形式的目的还是稳定用电，并以此来进行节能减碳，而氢能作为高效、可再生和零污染的清洁能源，在能源方面起到了它的作用；氢作为数据中心的能源，一定要抱着开放的胸怀去发展它，去使用它和利用它。
超大规模运营商和边缘计算初创公司正在推动氢作为柴油燃料的可能替代品。我们的 DCF 圆桌会议探讨了氢动力数据中心的优缺点。
Hydrogen is being advanced as a possible successor to diesel fuel by both hyperscale operators and edge computing startups. Our DCF Roundtable looks at the pros and cons of hydrogen-powered data centers.
Plug Power为微软开发了一台3兆瓦的氢燃料电池，该电池可能会在微软数据中心替代柴油发电机。
A 3-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell developed for Microsoft by Plug Power, which may replace diesel generators in Microsoft data centers.
数据中心越来越多的运营商希望结束他们对柴油作为燃料的应急备用电源的依赖。氢能正在被超大规模运营商和边缘计算初创公司视为可能的解决方案。今天，我们的DCF执行圆桌小组将讨论使用氢能来为数据中心提供动力的优缺点。
A growing number of data center operators would like to end their reliance on diesel fuel for emergency backup power. Hydrogen is being advanced as a possible solution by both hyperscale operators and edge computing startups. Today our DCF Executive Roundtable panel looks at the pros and cons of using hydrogen to power data centers.
参与讨论的嘉宾包括Flexential公司的CEO Chris Downie，Compass Datacenters公司和Infrastructure Masons协会的Nancy Novak，Sabey Data Centers公司的Tim Mirick，以及DCX公司的CEO George Slessman。本次讨论由Rich Miller主持,她是DCF的创始人兼编辑。以下是今天的讨论内容：
Our panelists include Flexential CEO Chris Downie, Nancy Novak of Compass Datacenters and Infrastructure Masons, Sabey Data Centers' Tim Mirick, and George Slessman, the CEO of DCX. The conversation is moderated by Rich Miller, the founder and editor of Data Center Frontier. Here’s today’s discussion:
Data Center Frontier：2023年初，我们看到了几项有关氢能数据中心计划的公告。在数据中心电力中使用氢能的潜在好处和障碍是什么？
Data Center Frontier: In early 2023 we’ve seen several announcements of plans for hydrogen-powered data centers. What are the potential benefits and barriers to the use of hydrogen in data center power?
Infrastructure Masons的Nancy Novak：在过去的几年里，人们对使用氢能作为备用发电机的替代品并最终成为数据中心的主要能源的兴趣急剧上升。像IBM、AWS和Equinix这样的公司的持续努力已经开始取得了一些成果，例如微软最近就成功测试了一台3MW的燃料电池。
Nancy Novak, Infrastructure Masons: The interest in using hydrogen as a replacement for back-up generators, and ultimately become the primary power source for a data center has risen dramatically in the past few years. The on-going efforts of companies like IBM, AWS and Equinix is beginning to bear some fruit as evidenced by Microsoft’s recent successful test of a 3MW fuel cell.
与数据中心行业内许多创新一样，超大规模运营商正在进行多个开发计划。考虑到他们在未来几年的能源承诺，这是有意义的。2030年并不遥远。氢能源对于他们来说，不是“能不能用”，而是“什么时候用”。
Like so many innovations within the data center industry multiple development initiatives are being conducted by the large hyperscalers. This makes sense in light of their energy commitments in future years. 2030 isn’t that far away. For them I don’t think they look at hydrogen as an 'if' as much as a 'when.'
像许多替代燃料一样，要使它成为可行的替代能源，还需要克服许多障碍。例如，目前氢气生产过程主要依赖化石燃料，这抵消了它的一些好处。但不断推进向可再生能源的转型将有助于逐渐改变这种情况。
Like many alternative fuel sources, there are a number of obstacles to be overcome to make it a viable power alternative. For example, currently the production process is primarily reliant of fossil fuels which offset some of its benefits, but the continued migration to renewables will help alter this situation over time.
另一个推进氢能的障碍是由于氢气的压缩、储存和运输方面的困难导致相对缺乏，这也使得其价格远高于其它替代方案。但是，我认为随着超大规模运营商致力于将氢能添加到未来可再生能源选项的武器库中，这些问题将被解决。Another bump in the road is the relative lack of hydrogen due difficulties in compression, storage and transportation which also translates in price points well in excess of alternative solutions. However, I think it’s reasonable that the issues prove transient due to the commitment of hyperscalers to add hydrogen to the arsenal of renewable power options in the future.
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Flexential的Chris Downie: 空间研究和发展在过去的一个世纪里开创了许多新技术，氢能源也不例外。现在，航天工业正在推动将水作为未来的燃料来源，这可以分解产生氢气，用于未来月球和火星任务。这也是联邦政府制定“氢能之路”框架的原因之一。
Chris Downie, Flexential: Space research and development has pioneered many new technologies over the last century, and hydrogen power is no exception. The space industry is now also driving the use of water as a future fuel source, which can be split to produce hydrogen for future Moon and Mars missions. It’s one reason why the federal government has produced a 'path to hydrogen' framework.
对于数据中心提供商来说，我们有机会利用像氢能这样的新技术提供可再生能源。但是我们必须建立一个可靠的供应链才能大规模使用氢能。一个潜在的解决方案是将燃料源（例如为电池供电的天然气）与氢交换，因为可靠地输送氢气的能力已经开发出来。如今，氢能源可以在集装箱大小的形式提供1-2MW的能量，产生的副产品只是120摄氏度的蒸汽。与吸收式制冷机配合使用，蒸汽的能量可用于为数据中心提供制冷。
For data center providers, there’s an opportunity for us to use new technologies like hydrogen to deliver renewable energy capabilities. However, we must enable a reliable supply-chain to use hydrogen on a large scale. A potential solution involves swapping fuel sources (such as natural gas used to power cells) with hydrogen as the capability to reliably deliver hydrogen comes on stream. Today it can be deployed in a small footprint, container-sized form-factor that could provide 1-2MW. The byproduct is steam at 120 degrees C. In conjunction with an absorption chiller, the energy from the steam can be used to provide for cooling for data centers.
在Flexential，节能作为我们对未来承诺的一部分，我们的运营团队正在努力评估许多新的燃料来源，为未来我们剧本多样化的能力而努力。我们的第5代设计已经实现了1.4或更低的PUE值和零用水量，目标是在未来的迭代中能够进一步降低PUE值。这就是为什么我们在最近的12亿美元ABS绿色融资倡议中承诺为未来的建设和改造项目提供直接资金，以促进可持续发展。
At Flexential, our operations teams are working to evaluate many of these new fuel sources as we diversify our capabilities for the future as part of our commitment to an energy-efficient future. Our gen 5 designs already deliver PUEs of 1.4 or under and zero water usage, with the goal to drive this down further in future iterations. That’s why we have committed as part of our recent 1.2B ABS green financing initiative to direct funding for future builds and retrofit projects to be aimed at leveraging advances in sustainability.
Sabey Data Centers的Tim Mirick: 我们认为替代能源有巨大的潜力。随着我们逐渐远离传统的基础负载能源，我们需要找到新的选项来运行数据中心，尤其是在不刮风或太阳不照的时候。随着时间的推移，如果我们能够有效地、经济地实现产能的规模化，氢气可以成为其中的一个选择。
Tim Mirick, Sabey Data Centers: We believe that there is tremendous potential in alternative power sources. With moves away from traditional base load energy, we’ll need to find new options to run our data centers when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t out. Hydrogen can be one of those options if we can get the scale in place to deliver the capacity efficiently and cost-effectively over time.
但是通常分离氢气仍需要用化石燃料，这就提出了一个问题，即我们能多快转向真正的零碳方法。在《通胀削减法案》（IRA）的刺激下，我们看到了许多新的将大型绿色氢项目上线的举措。这些都处于早期阶段，因此价格和可用性仍有待观察。
But fossil fuel is still generally required to isolate hydrogen, which raises the question of how quickly we can move to true zero carbon methods. We’re seeing many initiatives, stimulated by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), to put large new green hydrogen projects online. These are in their early stages, so pricing and availability remain to be seen.
此外，氢气发电设备（燃料电池或内燃机）还需要进一步发展。我们相信，随着时间的推移，氢气、核能和水力发电都将在取代产生碳排放的基础负载能源方面发挥作用。
Also, hydrogen power generation equipment (fuel cells or internal combustion) needs further development. In time, we believe hydrogen, as well as nuclear and hydroelectricity, will all play a role in replacing carbon-creating base load energy.
DCX的George Slessman: 我对氢能系统没有相关经验。
George Slessman, DCX: I have no relevant experience with hydrogen powered systems.
2030年，我们的数据中心能用上氢能吗？
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翻译：
王卫科
深圳市瑞达海克电源设备有限公司营销总监
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王谋锐
城地香江(上海)云计算有限公司 电气架构师
DKV（DeepKnowledge Volunteer）计划精英成员
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