Aluminum-air long-duration generation technology selected by Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers for Groundbreaking Clean Backup Energy Initiative in Data Centers.
Christine Kjær Jacobsen • July 29, 2025
The Net Zero Innovation Hub welcomes Phinergy as Hub member.
The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers, the leading global consortium of data center stakeholders—including Danfoss, Data4, Google, Microsoft, Vertiv, and Schneider Electric—has selected Aluminium-air backup solution as a key technology to accelerate the transition to data centers net-zero operations.
Phinergy’s innovative solution was chosen from over 70 proposals submitted in response to the Hub’s Request for Information (RFI) aimed at identifying clean and scalable backup energy systems for data centers. As a selected technology provider, Phinergy will be officially inducted as a member of the Hub, joining the industry’s most influential players in shaping sustainable digital infrastructure.
Phinergy and the Hub will now collaborate towards the execution of a funded project for scaling Aluminium-air backup systems to the MW level and deploying them in live environments at hub member data centers.
CEO, Alberto Ravagni Net Zero Innovation Hub, comments:
“Our mission is to speed up the large-scale adoption of clean alternatives to diesel backup generators, as they can transform data centers into key assets for modern energy systems. Aluminium-air long-duration generators have been shortlisted as a technology with game-changing potential, and we are excited to collaborate with Phinergy to scale-up this technology.”
Fredericia, Denmark — The Net Zero Innovation Hub , in collaboration with Danish Data Center Industry , Business Fredericia , and DTU , proudly announces the launch of a dedicated Start-Up Hub in Fredericia, Denmark, a new platform for early-stage companies shaping the future of sustainable digital infrastructure.
This comprehensive report outlines key activities, strategies, and accomplishments of the Net Zero Innovation Hub since its launch in September 2023 through February 2025.
Data Centers as grid assets, heat reuse ready solutions with and without district heating, and clean back-up solutions.The Net Zero innovation hub for data centers hosted a workshop in Amsterdam at Google, where the Hub members presented innovative solutions which will be integrated in pilots in 2025. During the workshop, hub members were updated on ongoing projects. The ongoing RFI for net-zero data center back-up solutions has delivered multiple clean back–up solutions, which are currently being evaluated. The Heat Reuse team delivered reference designs, ready to be implemented in projects. The Operators aligned the Scope 3 emissions project track, led by Data4.
The Net Zero Innovation Hub has developed an online tool to estimate the value of heat provided by data centers. The tool is intended to support the business development of use cases for data center heat reuse
Danfoss, Data4, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric and Vertiv today launched the first RFI of its kind in Europe, intended to accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions which can substitute diesel back-up generators.
Today, the Open Compute Project Foundation (OCP), the nonprofit organization bringing hyperscale innovations to all, and the NetZero Innovation Hub (NZIH) for Data Centers, aimed at driving forward sustainable innovations in data center technology, are pleased to announce a new alliance partnership.
Net Zero Innovation Hub board of directors to host a session at the upcoming DCD London conference on 18th September. The session is taking place on 18th September from 15.00 GMT at the Business Design Center in London. During the session, attendees will find out about current and upcoming projects, how to get involved, and meet the team and the board behind the Innovation Hub. The session is open to all attendees of the conference. The Net Zero Innovation Hub is a pan-European initiative led by Danfoss, Data4, Microsoft, Google, Schneider Electric and Vertiv. The scale of innovation projects struggles to keep up with the scale, speed and complexity of data center projects. To master the challenges of the twin transition, towards Net Zero and AI, the data center industry needs new innovation models. This can be achieved through cooperation across the data center industry, with companies driving innovation, start-ups, academia, R&D institutions, industry associations, advocacy entities, public and private investors. The Hub is selecting innovations in the early commercialization phase, to evaluate and execute projects, solutions, and business models based on their “Net Zero Impact” and acceleration capability towards Net Zero. The focus of the first set of projects are within the area of Carbon-Free Energy and Heat Reuse, which we are excited to announce together with our partners. “We are looking forward to the session at DCD, meeting industry partners and developing the partnerships needed to bring innovation projects from First-of-a-Kind (FoaK) to beyond the critical mass”, says Alberto Ravagni, CEO of the Net Zero Innovation Hub. “Net Zero means for us having a zero or positive impact on planet, people and profit, starting with the environmental impact measured by the GHG emissions, and extending to the holistic LCA impact categories”, adds Ravagni. About the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers The Net Zero Innovation Hub is a pan-European initiative which seeks to address key sectoral challenges through concrete innovation projects and establishing stronger links between operators, suppliers, and governments. Workshop link: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/dcd-connect-live/connect-london/2024/dcdworkshop1/ Contact: Alberto Ravagni, CEO ar@netzerodatacenters.com Merima Dzanic, PR & Communications merima@netzerodatacenters.com +45 20 15 50 21
Net Zero Innovation Talks by Alberto Ravagni
The case for Net Zero, to transform the global energy system in line with the 1.5 °C goal has never been stronger. August 2023 was the hottest on record by a large margin, this 2024 summer is on track to break that record.
The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers hosted a workshop on data center heat reuse last week in Frankfurt. Gathering operators, vendors and research institutions, the day focused on data center design, standardization and impact of HPC chip temperature on data center heat reuse. The focus was to identify and qualify concrete projects to accelerate the adoption of data center heat reuse for various use cases across Europe. “The workshop was very constructive in connecting and aligning ecosystems and industry organizations such as EUDCA and Euroheat & Power. Only when we come together and pool our knowledge, can we make things happen much faster and at a much larger scale”, says Alberto Ravagni, CEO of the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers. “The last few months we have spent time gathering information and reaching out to partners. Now we are ready to move ahead with the first projects within the heat reuse domain. This is a very exciting time for the industry, and we are excited to announce the next steps very soon”, adds Ravagni. The newly established Innovation Hub is a neutral platform, where the data center industry and the surrounding ecosystems can come together and find solutions to common challenges. For more information, please contact: Merima Dzanic, PR & Communications, Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers merima@netzerodatacenters.com + 45 20 15 50 21
