Microsoft patents geothermal and hydrogen backup power for data centers
Microsoft has been granted a patent for a power system that uses heat from the earth to run data centers. If the main geothermal power fails, the system automatically switches to a fuel cell that burns stored hydrogen to keep the servers running.
In the filing’s own words
Technology is disclosed for providing high availability electrical power to a data center using renewable energy sources. A system includes a geothermal extraction well and an underground hydrogen storage. In some cases, the underground hydrogen storage leverages the exterior cavity of the geothermal extraction well created during a pipe-in-pipe drilling process. The system further includes a turbine-generator system that converts the geothermal energy from the well into primary power for the data center. When a control system detects a disruption in the primary power, a fuel cell is used to generate backup power for the data center by leveraging the hydrogen in the underground storage to generate electricity. In some cases, a battery provides transitional backup power while the fuel cell performs its startup process.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system for providing high availability electrical power to a data center, the system comprising: a geothermal extraction well comprising an output, wherein the output emits geothermal energy; an underground hydrogen storage; a turbine-generator system comprising a turbine and a generator, wherein: the turbine-generator system is coupled to the output of the geothermal extraction well, the turbine converts the geothermal energy into mechanical energy, the generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity, and the electricity is served to the data center as primary power of the data center; a fuel cell coupled to the underground hydrogen storage via a valve, wherein: the fuel cell generates backup electricity using hydrogen from the underground hydrogen storage, and the backup electricity is served to the data center as backup power of the data center; and a control system, comprising: a backup controller, comprising: one or more backup processors; and one or more backup memories having stored thereon instructions that, upon execution by the one or more backup processors, cause the one or more backup processors to: detect a disruption in the primary power of the data center, in response to detecting the disruption: transmit a first signal to the valve, wherein the first signal opens the valve to allow flow of the hydrogen to the fuel cell; and transmit a second signal to the fuel cell, wherein the second signal initiates operation of the fuel cell.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- Hybrid flexible energy solution using geothermal and hydrogen for data center applications
- Patent number
- US12723572B1
- Application number
- 19209118
- Filed
- May 15, 2025
- Granted
- Sep 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
F03G 4/037 Mechanical engineeringF03G 4/029 Mechanical engineeringH02J 3/0012 Electricity & electronicsH02J 3/32 Electricity & electronicsH02J 3/381 Electricity & electronicsH02J 15/50 Electricity & electronicsMore from Microsoft in Batteries & energy
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.