Kuala lumpur: INNIO Group, an energy solution and service provider, has completed a landmark, industry-first demonstration of backup power for data centres using 100 per cent hydrogen-fuelled gas engines at the three megawatts (MW) scale. Conducted in collaboration with the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers, the test was carried out as part of the Hub's structured, collaborative approach to identifying and validating innovative technologies for large-scale deployment in the data centre industry. According to BERNAMA News Agency, technical experts from Microsoft, Google, and Data4 witnessed the live testing to assess performance against operational data centre requirements, confirming that hydrogen engines represent a promising pathway for backup and prime power needs for next-generation, high-demand data centres. 'Data centres are the backbone of the digital economy, and their energy demands are accelerating rapidly. This validation test demonstrates that INNIO's technology delivers the transient perf ormance, resilience, and flexibility data centres require, even when operating on 100 per cent hydrogen,' said INNIO Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Olaf Berlien. INNIO's natural gas engines are recognised for their rapid start-up capabilities, strong transient response, and stable performance, all of which have now been successfully demonstrated with hydrogen. During three MW-class tests at INNIO's research facility, the hydrogen-fuelled Jenbacher engine met the demanding response profiles required for mission-critical data centre operations. It was validated using various artificial intelligence (AI) load profiles and large, rapid load fluctuations to simulate real-world conditions. Under the Hub's framework, industry leaders jointly define requirements for technologies to be deployed at scale in data centres. Following a global Request for Information for low-carbon backup solutions, hydrogen and clean fuels were selected to replace diesel generators. Jenbacher gas engine technology from INNIO was chosen for MW-scale validation, with the company preparing and successfully executing the test in collaboration with the Hub technical team. INNIO Group and the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers plan to continue collaboration on scaling the solution, focusing on fuel availability, infrastructure, storage, dual-fuel capabilities, and integration into data centre architecture.