Bharti Airtel Collaborates on Fuel Cell Technology with Bloom Energy

Recently, Bharti Airtel announced that its subsidiary Nxtra Data Limited had teamed up with Bloom Energy to install low-environmental impact fuel cell systems at its data centers in Karnataka. This will help reduce carbon emissions by providing a cleaner, hydrogen-ready fuel source and reduce energy consumption.

According to a statement from Bharti Airtel, Nxtra will be the first data center company in India to use fuel cell technology to lower carbon emissions at its data centers while also realising cost and sustainability benefits.

Without making a big investment, Nxtra intends to start the unit with non-combusted natural gas and then switch to 50% hydrogen in the future. The utility electrical grid and generators will be employed as backup sources in addition to the natural gas-powered cells for primary generating.

According to Tim Schweikert, senior managing director of international business development at Bloom Energy, “Bloom Energy’s technology is capable of helping India reach its decarbonisation ambitions as it transforms into a hydrogen economy.”

Schweikert added, “We are delighted to work with Nxtra to support them in their aim of employing clean, dependable, and reasonably priced power for their data centers.

With 12 big and 120 edge data centers spread across the nation, Nxtra by Airtel has the largest network of data centers in India. Over the next four years, the company expects to invest more than Rs 5000 crore to triple its capacity to more than 400 MW.

To source more than 180,000 MWh of renewable energy, the company has already invested in and partnered with 8 organisations to build renewable energy power plants across India. According to Bharti Airtel, the company is committed to meeting 50% of its power needs through renewable energy sources within the next 12 months.

Recently, Bharti Airtel acquired around a 9 percent stake in renewable energy firm Avaada Clean TN Project, a special purpose vehicle formed to own and operate captive power plants, for about Rs 7.88 crore in an all-cash deal.