Ballard partners with Vertiv to support hydrogen-powered backup systems

VANCOUVER and WESTERVILLE — Ballard Power Systems and Vertiv have entered a technology partnership focusing on backup power applications for data centres and critical infrastructures. This collaboration aims to provide scalable solutions ranging from 200kW to multiple MWs.

Vertiv has integrated Ballard fuel cell power modules with Vertiv Liebert EXL S1 uninterruptible power system (UPS) within a successfully demonstrated proof of concept (POC) at Vertiv’s facility in Ohio. This initiative aims to showcase the technical feasibility and benefits of hydrogen-powered fuel cell solutions for backup power.

“As the soaring increase in data usage is driving up power demand and expansion of data centre capacity globally, the need to effectively manage electricity consumption and the carbon footprint of this energy-intensive sector is critical to achieving net-zero targets,” said Nicolas Pocard, VP of marketing and strategic partnerships, Ballard. “(This) partnership enables both parties to leverage our respective strengths to offer cost-effective, zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission fuel cell backup power solutions that are scalable to meet data centres growing power demands.”

The key features of the Vertiv Power Module H2 solution include the following-

• Single-supplied complex power infrastructure
• Zero GHG emission and low noise backup power generation
• Rapid Dynamic power response
• Low maintenance compared to diesel generator backup solutions
• Extended backup (days) – limited only by fuel storage capacity
• Optimized footprint for MW scale applications
• Scalable in multi-MW UPS and Fuel Cell applications