The AI revolution is reshaping nearly every corner of the global economy--perhaps nowhere more than the electrical grid. Data centers, AI’s invisible backbone, are multiplying at unprecedented speed. They require massive amounts of electricity today’s grid can’t provide to power the world’s new digital infrastructure.
This growth is creating a conundrum for technology companies who over recent years have sought clean energy solutions for their power demands. Their appetite for electric power is increasingly insatiable, but renewable power can’t meet their needs. To paint a picture, meeting a demand of one gigawatt—representative of a new AI facility—would require approximately five million solar panels, spanning close to 5,000 football fields. In contrast, fuel cell systems can deliver up to 33 megawatts per acre, making them dramatically less land-intensive than solar or wind—an increasingly important consideration as data centers compete for space in urban and suburban areas.
Even large solar installations may not solve the issue. A recent New York Times article headlined, “Why Don’t Data Centers Use More Green Energy?” notes that data centers need a consistent power supply, which solar and wind cannot provide around the clock. Nuclear options are carbon-free but require years to develop. The Wall Street Journal highlights that to overcome the power shortage operators are adopting mixed solutions—using both grid electricity and on-site sources like natural gas turbines or relying solely on turbines.
Meanwhile, there is strong public interest regarding the suitability of relying on natural gas as a stopgap.
The Virginia Conservation Network is focused squarely on data center development as an issue, devoting its policy resources to address environmental concerns and encouraging more state level involvement in local decisions that allow data center development. Their website cautions that the “explosive growth of data centers threatens to derail state efforts to meet climate goals, improve air and water quality, advance land conservation, and protect national and state parks.”
Virginia Tech data center experts Walid Saad and Dimitri Nikolopoulos say that the negative impact of data center growth on the environment requires a different mindset among U.S. AI leaders to include consideration of the “‘impact per watt, per dollar, per community.’
It is essential, however, to address the manner in which natural gas is utilized.
A Practical Pathway to the Future for Data Centers
Fuel cells offer significant benefits compared to conventional power generation technologies. While these effective solutions operate using natural gas (or biogas and hydrogen blends), they generate electricity electrochemically—without combustion.
Why does this matter?
Because FuelCell Energy’s fuel cells do not burn fuel, they release near zero smog-forming air pollutants, including NOx, CO, VOCs. This is 10 to 100 times lower than the cleanest natural gas engines or turbines.
Plus, there is an economically viable pathway to carbon capture, utilization and sequestration, enabling dramatic further reduction in carbon footprint.
FuelCell Energy’s carbonate fuel cell systems are scalable and ready for implementation within months of order, which aligns with the "Bring Your Own Power" approach adopted by datacenter operators. They provide the firm, always-on power that AI workloads demand, without waiting for grid interconnections or compromising sustainability goals.
By powering data centers with fuel cells, organizations can secure a dependable energy solution that not only meets growing demand but also advances the decarbonization objectives valued by both businesses and environmental advocates.
The Bigger Picture
The conversation surrounding data center growth must evolve to address not only decarbonization, but the broader spectrum of emissions—including air pollutants and noise—as well as considerations like land use and spatial sustainability. While expanding solar, wind, and nuclear energy remains crucial, these sources alone cannot satisfy the constant, high-demand energy needs of the AI economy. Responsibly managed natural gas—utilized through advanced, high-efficiency, near-zero-emission fuel cell systems—provides essential baseload power and enables progress without interruption, all while supporting a more comprehensive approach to sustainability.
Learn more about FuelCell Energy's data center solutions here.