Equinix and Bloom Energy announced 1 MW biogas fuel cell project at its SV5 International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in Silicon Valley.
The deployment of fuel cells supports Equinix’s sustainability goal of using 100 percent clean and renewable energy across its global platform of more than 100 data centers.
The 1 MW Bloom Energy fuel cell will provide an estimated 8.3 million kilowatt-hours per year of clean, reliable electricity; powering a portion of the SV5 data center.
The fuel cell uses a solid oxide technology to generate electricity through a clean electrochemical process using air and fuel and resulting in only water and a small amount of carbon dioxide as by-products.
The installation is associated with a 15 percent carbon dioxide reduction over the local PG&E grid or at least 1.6 million pounds of avoided CO2 emissions from the California grid and that is before the use of biogas.
100 percent biogas to fuel the system will result 1 MW of 100 percent renewable energy.
Equinix gets nearly 30 percent of its global energy from clean, renewable sources. Equinix plans to deliver on its long-term goal of using 100 percent clean and renewable energy by using a variety of mechanisms including fuel cells or solar panels, power purchase agreements, utility renewable energy programs, renewable energy credits and carbon offsets.
“This project demonstrates Equinix’s commitment to find cost-effective ways to reduce our carbon footprint and move toward 100 percent renewable energy,” said Sam Kapoor, chief global operations officer, Equinix.
