Equinix completes 12-week hydrogen power trial at Irish data centre

US-based data centre operator Equinix has completed a 12-week hydrogen-fuelled backup power trial at an Irish data centre.

The pilot saw two hydrogen generators made by UK-based GeoPura, one belonging to Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board (ESB), replace diesel generators used with cooling systems at Equinix’s facility in Dublin.

The 250kW Hydrogen Power Units (HPU), which have also recently been employed by the UK Royal Air Force, were fuelled by GeoPura’s own green hydrogen produced in the UK.

While the specific source was unnamed, the company operates a handful of production sites.

Its flagship production project, the 15MW HyMarnham facility, is expected to be the first UK government-backed project to go online. It was set for late 2025 operation, but its current status remains unclear.

Peter Lantry, Managing Director of Equinix Ireland, said the pilot progresses a potential solution to Ireland’s grid constraints while proving hydrogen’s suitability as a diesel replacement in real-world environments.

The trial comes as hydrogen generators gain traction as a zero-emission diesel alternative across operations, including construction, mining, events, industrial applications, and digital infrastructure.

In March, a Singaporean duo partnered to develop a barge-based hydrogen generator to support the country’s AI data centres, and US-based infrastructure solutions start-up Endeavour revealed a new turquoise hydrogen system for powering AI data centres.

Jules Billiet, CEO of French fuel cell and hydrogen generator maker Inocel, recently told H2 View that hydrogen generators can already compete with diesel systems in certain sectors when using delivered fuel costing €9 ($10.32) to €11 ($12.61) per kilogramme.