Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tokuyama Corporation, and Mitsubishi Corporation have initiated a joint demonstration project to operate a data center using by-product hydrogen and a stationary fuel cell power station designed to reuse fuel cell systems from fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The project aims to explore the potential of reusing automotive fuel cell systems in stationary applications, contributing to the decarbonization of electric power.
The demonstration is being conducted in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Tokuyama's saltwater electrolysis business supplies by-product hydrogen to Honda's stationary fuel cell power station, which then provides electricity to a distributed data center operated by Mitsubishi. This collaboration seeks to verify the use of fuel cells as primary and backup power sources for data centers and assess their role in grid balancing.
As data centers increasingly demand large-scale data processing capabilities, such as those required for artificial intelligence and automated driving, the need for sustainable and reliable power sources becomes more critical. By utilizing by-product hydrogen and repurposed fuel cells, the project aims to facilitate the decarbonization of data centers and support the digital transformation of municipalities and local businesses.
The demonstration period is set from the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, through the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. Based on the outcomes of this project, the companies plan to explore the feasibility of installing and expanding data centers powered by clean energy in the region and consider further business opportunities both within and outside Japan.