ECL has launched what it claims is the world’s first hydrogen-powered data center, located off the coast of California in Mountain View. The innovative facility, called MV1, not only operates uniquely but also produces water and achieves a PUE of 1.1, including grid connections. As AI usage grows, this development could significantly impact sustainable tech infrastructure.
Yuval Bachar, ECL’s CEO and founder, has experience at tech giants like Microsoft, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Cisco. He sees enormous potential in this hydrogen-powered model. MV1 starts with a one-megawatt capacity, but Bachar believes it can scale rapidly to meet increasing demands. “We’re showing that this technology works and is ready to grow,” he said, expressing confidence in its broader adoption.
Hydrogen-powered data centers have been discussed for years, but they have yet to become widespread. A recent AFCOM survey shows that only 16% of industry experts believe hydrogen power is gaining traction, compared to 59% for solar and 28% for wind. ECL aims to change this. Their first customer, Cato Digital, plans to use all of MV1’s capacity, starting with 84 Nvidia DGX servers and eventually scaling up to 1,800 GPUs.
Bachar also highlighted hydrogen’s cost benefits. Traditional one-megawatt data centers typically cost between $14 million and $15 million to build. ECL’s facility, however, is 30% to 40% cheaper. Operating costs are lower too, as hydrogen fuel costs about 50% less than diesel. “It’s not just cheaper; it’s fully sustainable and has zero emissions,” Bachar emphasized. The facility even returns water to the local supply, a rarity in an industry known for high water usage.
Despite these advantages, some experts remain skeptical. Industry analyst Jack Gold noted that hydrogen as a power source has been discussed for decades without large-scale adoption. Others, like Ashish Nadkarni of IDC, worry about hydrogen supply reliability and the challenge of maintaining continuous operations.
Nevertheless, ECL continues to move forward. They plan to release another hydrogen-powered data center soon. As AI drives increasing electricity demand, products like MV1 could become essential in meeting the needs of a data-dependent world.
