PowerCell secures multi-MW Power Generation order for AI data center, valued at approximately SEK 30 million
PowerCell secures multi-MW Power Generation order for AI data center, valued at approximately SEK 30 million
PowerCell Group has secured an order to supply hydrogen fuel cell systems for ECL's CSC-1 AI data center campus in Santa Clara, California. The order comprises PowerCell PS190 fuel cell systems, to be integrated into ECL's FlexGrid microgrid architecture in containerized units, representing an installed capacity in the 5 MW class, together with licenses for the PowerCell Distributed Master Controller (DMC). The combination of the company's fuel cell platform and digital energy orchestration reflects PowerCell's strategy of delivering resilient energy solutions rather than stand-alone power generation products. The contract is valued at approximately SEK 30 million, with deliveries scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
The order is the result of the successful deployment and operational validation of PowerCell's PS190 fuel cell systems and Distributed Master Controller (DMC) at ECL's MV-1 AI data center in Mountain View, California. It represents the next step in the strategic collaboration between ECL, PowerCell and Bosch to deploy industrial-scale hydrogen fuel cell solutions for AI infrastructure.
CSC-1 is a 35 MW AI-optimized campus based on ECL's FlexGrid architecture, combining grid power, batteries, natural gas and hydrogen fuel cells into a resilient energy system. Through the integration of PowerCell's Distributed Master Controller with ECL's Lightning energy management platform, hydrogen fuel cells become an integrated part of the site's primary energy infrastructure, enabling resilient, flexible and highly available power for AI workloads.
The order represents an important strategic milestone in PowerCell's ambition to establish Power Generation as the company's second core business alongside Marine. It also marks the commercial deployment of the company's strategy to combine industrialized fuel cell technology with digital energy orchestration through the sale of both PowerCell PS190 fuel cell systems and Distributed Master Controller (DMC) licenses. By enabling hydrogen fuel cells to operate as part of the site's primary energy infrastructure rather than as backup power, the project demonstrates the growing role of resilient, distributed energy systems for mission-critical applications.
Richard Berkling, CEO of PowerCell Group, said:
"This order demonstrates how hydrogen fuel cells are becoming part of critical energy infrastructure. As demand for computing capacity accelerates, access to reliable power has become one of the industry's biggest constraints. ECL deserves significant credit for having continuously operated liquid hydrogen-powered AI infrastructure over the past two years. Technology matures through operation, and that experience has created a depth of application knowledge that few organizations have. By continuously refining and optimizing the installation, ECL has helped demonstrate what it takes to make hydrogen part of primary energy infrastructure rather than simply backup power. Together with ECL and Bosch, we are combining that application knowledge with industrialized fuel cell technology, digital energy orchestration and global manufacturing capability to deliver resilient energy systems ready for commercial scale."
The collaboration combines ECL's FlexGrid microgrid architecture and Lightning energy management platform with PowerCell's industrialized hydrogen fuel cell systems and Bosch's manufacturing and service capabilities. Bosch is both PowerCell's largest shareholder and strategic manufacturing partner, providing industrial-scale production together with local service capabilities in North America.
Yuval Bachar, Founder and CEO of ECL, comments:
"Every AI roadmap we see is constrained by power, not imagination, funding or demand. Over the past two years we have continuously operated and optimized liquid hydrogen-powered AI infrastructure at our MV-1 facility, evaluating multiple fuel cell technologies under real operating conditions before selecting PowerCell. This is not a pilot or a proof of concept — we are placing a firm order for PS190 Systems because we have the operational data to back it up. Industrial deployment requires much more than high-performing fuel cells: it requires operational stability, digital energy orchestration and manufacturing capability. That combination is what PowerCell and Bosch bring to our next generation of AI infrastructure, enabling us to scale resilient power systems significantly faster than conventional alternatives."
The PowerCell Distributed Master Controller (DMC) plays a central role in multi-megawatt installations by orchestrating fuel cells, batteries, grid connection and other energy assets as one integrated energy system. This enables redundancy at system level, optimized energy utilization and high operational availability while supporting future expansion as power demand grows.
The project is also expected to create opportunities for recurring software, service and lifecycle revenues throughout the operational lifetime of the installation.