INNIO and Net Zero Innovation Hub Present the World's First 3 MW Demonstration for a 100% Hydrogen-Fuelled Backup Power System for Data Centres

INNIO Group and the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centres have demonstrated a 3 MW-scale backup power generator using 100% hydrogen fuel, marking the first such achievement in the industry. The testing formed part of a collaborative and structured approach by the Hub to identify and validate innovative technologies for large-scale deployment in the data centre sector. Technical experts from Microsoft, Google, and Data4 witnessed the live testing to evaluate performance against real-world data centre operational requirements.

INNIO’s natural gas engines are renowned for their fast start-up, strong transient response, and stable performance. These performance characteristics have now been successfully demonstrated using hydrogen.

During the 3 MW-class testing at INNIO’s research facility, the hydrogen-fuelled Jenbacher engine met the response profile required for critical data centre operations. This achievement was validated using various AI load profiles and large, rapid load fluctuations to simulate real-world data centre conditions. Technical experts from Microsoft, Google, and Data4 witnessed the live testing and assessed performance based on real-world data centre requirements, confirming that hydrogen engines show great promise for backup and primary power needs in next-generation data centres facing high demands.

This testing is part of the collaborative and structured process at the Hub to advance innovation. At the Hub, data centre industry leaders jointly define new technology requirements for large-scale implementation in data centres. Following a global Request for Information (RFI) for low-carbon backup solutions, hydrogen and clean fuels were selected as alternatives to diesel backup generators. INNIO’s Jenbacher gas engine technology was chosen for MW-scale validation, where the company prepared and successfully conducted the testing alongside the Hub’s technical team. The Hub team includes industry partners such as Data4, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv.

As AI-driven load growth accelerates, data centre operators are prioritising supply certainty, deployment speed, and decarbonisation. Industry analysts estimate that behind-the-meter (BTM) energy systems and hybrid energy systems in new-build data centres will rise from 10-20% in 2025 to 50-60% in 2030. This underscores the need for upgradeable, low-carbon alternative fuels to replace diesel-fuelled backup systems.

“Data centres are the backbone of the digital economy, and their energy needs are growing rapidly. This validation test demonstrates that INNIO’s technology delivers the transient performance, resilience, and flexibility that data centres require, even when operating on 100% hydrogen,” said Dr. Olaf Berlien, President & CEO of INNIO Group.

“The success of this testing confirms scalable clean backup solutions as well as the Hub’s novel collaborative approach to accelerating the deployment of innovative solutions in the data centre industry,” said Alberto Ravagni, CEO of the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centres.

Hydrogen-powered BTM backup and primary power solutions offer a promising path to low-carbon backup and primary power, enabling faster data centre deployment, grid integration, and grid stabilisation. INNIO Group and the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centres plan to continue collaborating on developing these solutions, focusing on key factors such as fuel availability, infrastructure, storage, permitting, dual-fuel capabilities, and data centre architecture integration.

About INNIO Group

INNIO Group is a leading provider of energy services and solutions that support various industries and communities in achieving sustainable energy today. With the Jenbacher and Waukesha product brands and the AI-powered myplant digital platform, INNIO Group offers innovative solutions for data centre power infrastructure, distributed power generation, and compression applications. With flexible, upgradeable, and resilient energy solutions and services, INNIO Group enables its customers to drive the energy transition across the energy value chain and ensure reliable energy supply even in off-grid locations.

For more information, visit the INNIO Group website at innio.com. Follow INNIO Group on X and LinkedIn.

INNIO, Jenbacher, Waukesha, and myplant are trademarks or registered trademarks of INNIO Group or one of its subsidiaries in the European Union, the United States, and other countries. For a list of INNIO Group trademarks, visit innio.com/trademarks. All other trademarks and company names are the property of their respective owners.

About Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centres

The Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centres brings together data centre industry leaders to accelerate the deployment of advanced net-zero emissions solutions. Led by Danfoss, Data4, Google, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv, the hub mitigates innovation risks by addressing technical, commercial, regulatory, and financial risks. Through its unique and structured collaborative innovation methodology, it aims to support sustainable data centre growth while enabling the transition to a net-zero future.