深度訪談：氫能數(shù)據(jù)中心的優(yōu)缺點
Closer Look: Hydrogen as an Energy Source for Data Centers
March 29, 2023
當(dāng)前，能源依然是我們數(shù)據(jù)中心永遠的需求，解決能源的問題依然是一個非常宏大的問題，對于數(shù)據(jù)中心而言，變革能源的形式的目的還是穩(wěn)定用電，并以此來進行節(jié)能減碳，而氫能作為高效、可再生和零污染的清潔能源，在能源方面起到了它的作用；氫作為數(shù)據(jù)中心的能源，一定要抱著開放的胸懷去發(fā)展它，去使用它和利用它。
超大規(guī)模運營商和邊緣計算初創(chuàng)公司正在推動氫作為柴油燃料的可能替代品。我們的 DCF 圓桌會議探討了氫動力數(shù)據(jù)中心的優(yōu)缺點。
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為微軟開發(fā)了一臺3兆瓦的氫燃料電池，該電池可能會在微軟數(shù)據(jù)中心替代柴油發(fā)電機。
A 3-megawatt hydrogen fuel cell developed for Microsoft by Plug Power, which may replace diesel generators in Microsoft data centers.
數(shù)據(jù)中心越來越多的運營商希望結(jié)束他們對柴油作為燃料的應(yīng)急備用電源的依賴。氫能正在被超大規(guī)模運營商和邊緣計算初創(chuàng)公司視為可能的解決方案。今天，我們的DCF執(zhí)行圓桌小組將討論使用氫能來為數(shù)據(jù)中心提供動力的優(yōu)缺點。
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.
參與討論的嘉賓包括Flexential公司的CEO Chris Downie，Compass Datacenters公司和Infrastructure Masons協(xié)會的Nancy Novak，Sabey Data Centers公司的Tim Mirick，以及DCX公司的CEO George Slessman。本次討論由Rich Miller主持,她是DCF的創(chuàng)始人兼編輯。以下是今天的討論內(nèi)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，我們看到了幾項有關(guān)氫能數(shù)據(jù)中心計劃的公告。在數(shù)據(jù)中心電力中使用氫能的潛在好處和障礙是什么？
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：在過去的幾年里，人們對使用氫能作為備用發(fā)電機的替代品并最終成為數(shù)據(jù)中心的主要能源的興趣急劇上升。像IBM、AWS和Equinix這樣的公司的持續(xù)努力已經(jīng)開始取得了一些成果，例如微軟最近就成功測試了一臺3MW的燃料電池。
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.
與數(shù)據(jù)中心行業(yè)內(nèi)許多創(chuàng)新一樣，超大規(guī)模運營商正在進行多個開發(fā)計劃?？紤]到他們在未來幾年的能源承諾，這是有意義的。2030年并不遙遠。氫能源對于他們來說，不是“能不能用”，而是“什么時候用”。
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.'
像許多替代燃料一樣，要使它成為可行的替代能源，還需要克服許多障礙。例如，目前氫氣生產(chǎn)過程主要依賴化石燃料，這抵消了它的一些好處。但不斷推進向可再生能源的轉(zhuǎn)型將有助于逐漸改變這種情況。
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.
另一個推進氫能的障礙是由于氫氣的壓縮、儲存和運輸方面的困難導(dǎo)致相對缺乏，這也使得其價格遠高于其它替代方案。但是，我認(rèn)為隨著超大規(guī)模運營商致力于將氫能添加到未來可再生能源選項的武器庫中，這些問題將被解決。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: 空間研究和發(fā)展在過去的一個世紀(jì)里開創(chuàng)了許多新技術(shù)，氫能源也不例外。現(xiàn)在，航天工業(yè)正在推動將水作為未來的燃料來源，這可以分解產(chǎn)生氫氣，用于未來月球和火星任務(wù)。這也是聯(lián)邦政府制定“氫能之路”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.
對于數(shù)據(jù)中心提供商來說，我們有機會利用像氫能這樣的新技術(shù)提供可再生能源。但是我們必須建立一個可靠的供應(yīng)鏈才能大規(guī)模使用氫能。一個潛在的解決方案是將燃料源（例如為電池供電的天然氣）與氫交換，因為可靠地輸送氫氣的能力已經(jīng)開發(fā)出來。如今，氫能源可以在集裝箱大小的形式提供1-2MW的能量，產(chǎn)生的副產(chǎn)品只是120攝氏度的蒸汽。與吸收式制冷機配合使用，蒸汽的能量可用于為數(shù)據(jù)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，節(jié)能作為我們對未來承諾的一部分，我們的運營團隊正在努力評估許多新的燃料來源，為未來我們劇本多樣化的能力而努力。我們的第5代設(shè)計已經(jīng)實現(xiàn)了1.4或更低的PUE值和零用水量，目標(biāo)是在未來的迭代中能夠進一步降低PUE值。這就是為什么我們在最近的12億美元ABS綠色融資倡議中承諾為未來的建設(shè)和改造項目提供直接資金，以促進可持續(xù)發(fā)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: 我們認(rèn)為替代能源有巨大的潛力。隨著我們逐漸遠離傳統(tǒng)的基礎(chǔ)負載能源，我們需要找到新的選項來運行數(shù)據(jù)中心，尤其是在不刮風(fēng)或太陽不照的時候。隨著時間的推移，如果我們能夠有效地、經(jīng)濟地實現(xiàn)產(chǎn)能的規(guī)?；?，氫氣可以成為其中的一個選擇。
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.
但是通常分離氫氣仍需要用化石燃料，這就提出了一個問題，即我們能多快轉(zhuǎn)向真正的零碳方法。在《通脹削減法案》（IRA）的刺激下，我們看到了許多新的將大型綠色氫項目上線的舉措。這些都處于早期階段，因此價格和可用性仍有待觀察。
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，氫氣發(fā)電設(shè)備（燃料電池或內(nèi)燃機）還需要進一步發(fā)展。我們相信，隨著時間的推移，氫氣、核能和水力發(fā)電都將在取代產(chǎn)生碳排放的基礎(chǔ)負載能源方面發(fā)揮作用。
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: 我對氫能系統(tǒng)沒有相關(guān)經(jīng)驗。
George Slessman, DCX: I have no relevant experience with hydrogen powered systems.
2030年，我們的數(shù)據(jù)中心能用上氫能嗎？
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