Hydrogen-Fueled Generators Chosen for Clean Backup Energy in Data Centers

Christine Kjær Jacobsen • August 28, 2025

Fredericia, 21 August 2025 -  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 hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine (ICE) generators as a key technology to accelerate the transition to net-zero operations of the data center industry.

As part of this initiative, MW-scale testing of INNIO Jenbacher generators running on 100% hydrogen will be conducted at INNIO Jenbacher’s research facility in Austria.


Technical experts from Microsoft, Google, and Data4 will witness the tests, which will follow standard start-up protocols as well as specialized load profiles reflecting AI training workloads.


These tests aim to validate the readiness of hydrogen ICE generators to support current and future data center loads.

 

Hydrogen-powered on-site generation offers the potential to become a breakthrough solution, not only for clean backup power but also for enabling faster data center deployment, grid integration, and grid stabilization.

 

INNIO Jenbacher and the Net Zero Innovation Hub will collaborate to scale this solution, focusing on critical enablers such as fuel storage, permitting, and dual-fuel capabilities using both natural gas and hydrogen.

 

For more information, please contact

Alberto Ravagni

CEO

AR@netzerodatacenters.com

 

Christine Kjær Jacobsen

Head of PR & Communication

chja@netzerodatacenters.com

Innovation meets Sustainability: Winners Announced at Net Zero Start-Up Hub Pitch Event in Fredericia

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • September 24, 2025
Fredericia, 24 September 2025 – The Net Zero Innovation Hub, Business Fredericia, DTU, Google, and the Danish Data Center Industry (DDI) are proud to announce the winners of the Net Zero Start-Up Hub Pitch Event, held today at MesseC Fredericia as part of Nordic Data Center Week and Fredericia Talks.

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By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • September 22, 2025
Fredericia, Denmark / Oslo, Norway, 22 September – The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers, Invest in Norway, and the Norwegian Datacenter Association today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy in the data center sector.

Net Zero Innovation Hub joins European AI Testing & Experimentation Facility (AI TEF) for Smart and Sustainability Cities and Communities

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • August 20, 2025
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By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • July 29, 2025
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Call for Early-Stage Companies in Green Digital Infrastructure and Energy Technologies

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • June 25, 2025
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Net Zero Hub launches annual report: highlights, strategies & accomplishments

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • April 7, 2025
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NZIH Workshop in Amsterdam: Pilot projects to start in 2025

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • February 20, 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.

New heat reuse calculator supports business development of heat reuse cases

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • December 5, 2024
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

The Net Zero Innovation Hub (NZIH) initiates a Request for Information (RFI) for Net Zero Data Center Back-Up Power Solutions

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • November 12, 2024
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.

Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers announces Strategic Alliance with Open Compute Project Foundation

By Christine Kjær Jacobsen • October 16, 2024
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.