Re-use of Fuel Cell By-products

Microsoft is testing the implementation of fuel cell technology in order to lessen its dependence on traditional power supplies. Through the conversion of natural gas to power, solid-oxide fuel cells give off high-quality heat, highly pure water and gaseous carbon dioxide. The design created to use the fuel cell byproducts is a closed-loop hydroponic greenhouse system in conjunction with a heat-driven water-treatment system. The system sequesters excess carbon dioxide and provides a water source derived from the data centers. Full-scale implementation of this project will involve building greenhouses directly on top of the fuel cell-powered data centers. This will allow water to be purified at the site of the data centers and fed directly into the greenhouse system, creating a food-source for the surrounding community. The waste biomass from the greenhouse will be composted to create methane that will be fed back into the fuel cells.