Honda, Tokuyama, and Mitsubishi launch hydrogen-powered data center project using repurposed fuel cells to promote clean, efficient energy.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has embarked on a collaborative demonstration project with Tokuyama Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), focusing on the innovative use of by-product hydrogen and repurposed automotive fuel cells (FCs) for stationary power generation. The pilot initiative aims to power a distributed data center with clean energy using a stationary fuel cell power station developed by Honda. An opening ceremony for this project was recently held in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, marking the commencement of operations.
The project originates from a proposal submitted in June 2023, which was approved by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as part of its program titled “Development of Technologies for Realizing a Hydrogen Society / Development of Technologies for Regional Hydrogen Utilization.” The stationary fuel cell system being tested incorporates reused fuel cell units initially designed for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). These are now repurposed for fixed installations to support clean power needs.
By utilizing hydrogen generated as a by-product from Tokuyama’s saltwater electrolysis process, the system supplies electricity to a data center run by MC at the demonstration site. This collaborative initiative seeks to evaluate both the technical feasibility and economic efficiency of applying second-life automotive FC systems to power infrastructure, especially data centers.
The core objectives of the demonstration include reducing the financial burden for operators of stationary fuel cell power stations and accelerating efforts toward decarbonizing electricity generation. These goals align with broader strategies to support sustainable energy transitions, particularly as demand for data center power is expected to rise sharply with the expansion of technologies such as generative AI and autonomous driving systems.
To address this growing energy need sustainably, the project combines several power sources—1) by-product hydrogen-powered fuel cells, 2) the traditional power grid, 3) battery energy storage systems (BESS), and 4) renewable energy sources. These sources will be orchestrated using an advanced Energy Management System (EMS), allowing for flexible and optimized power delivery under varying operational scenarios.
Specifically, the demonstration will test the following use cases:
1. Deployment as a backup power source.
2. Functioning as an off-grid, primary power supply.
3. Reducing peak power draw from the grid (peak shaving).
4. Supporting grid stability through supply-demand balancing, including electricity return to the grid.
Beyond proving the technical and commercial potential of such stationary FC applications, the project also explores the broader role of hydrogen and FC technologies in driving the green transformation (GX) of digital infrastructure and the digital transformation (DX) of local communities and businesses.
