Fujitsu Installs Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power at Sunnyvale Campus

 

Fujitsu America has recently dedicated a hydrogen fuel cell on its Sunnyvale campus. The company has become the first Silicon Valley company to install its own hydrogen power plant, which provides clean, efficient power for the campus data center and other operations, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

 

Fujitsu has reportedly spent a decade making a significant, sustainable investment in enterprise-wide initiatives aiming to reduce the environmental impact of its products and operations. The new power plant will provide 50 percent of the power needed to cool the Fujitsu Sunnyvale campus data center and labs. This will reduce the amount of fossil fuel that must be burned to maintain operations and ease pressure on the local power grid.

 

The company refers to the EPA, according to which data centers across the U.S. consumed about 61 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2006. This is roughly 1.5 percent of the total U.S. electricity consumption. Consumption is expected to double by 2011 based on current trends. Fujitsu informs that the fossil fuel-burning power plants used to generate this electricity release more than 40 percent of the total U.S. CO2 emissions.

 

Tetsuo Urano, head of American operations, Fujitsu America believes their real-world use of the hydrogen fuel cell is a clear demonstration of the ability of corporations to make a significant and financially responsible investment in reducing harmful impacts on the environment, with the ultimate goal of reversing global warming.

 

According to Urano, hydrogen power is an excellent investment for the company with a payback of about three and a half years and a lifespan of about 15 years. Fujitsu has a deep commitment to environmental responsibility, and they are proud of the leadership they've shown over the years, from reducing their carbon footprint, to eliminating lead and other harmful wastes from their supply chain and products, to broad recycling and reuse programs. The company intends to continue to invest in innovation and programs that are both good for the environment and good for their business.

 

“Fujitsu is a model for how large organizations can work through the process of understanding their energy requirements, researching the best solution to meet their fiscal requirements and their environmental impact goals, and then making a solid, long-term investment in a clean, efficient, cost-effective energy system,” said Jan van Dokkum, UTC power president in a statement.

 

“Our environmentally advanced UTC Power PureCell products offer proven reliability, energy productivity and a reduced carbon footprint to benefit our customers and their communities,” added Dokkum.

 

 

What’s the best resource to learn about latest trends in the IP communications industry? Why, INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO, of course. ITEXPO West 2007 is just around the corner—this year it’s being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California, Sept. 10-12. Register here. Preview sessions, speakers and exhibitors. And don’t forget to check out the brand new Green Technology World Conference.