Bloom Energy, a leading developer of fuel cell electricity, has announced its partnership with Chart Industries, Inc., a global energy and industrial gas solutions company, to advance carbon capture technology. The collaboration aims to provide secure, near zero-carbon power for use in data centers and manufacturing with rapid deployment.

Enhancing Carbon Capture

Under this collaboration, Chart Industries will utilize its carbon capture expertise to treat the high-purity carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from Bloom Energy’s fuel cells. The CO2 can be used in commercial applications or sequestered. Although infrastructure for carbon sequestration is still in development, CO2 utilization is an immediate and pragmatic solution.

Market estimates by Morgan Stanley suggest that more than 500 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of carbon sequestration capacity will be available in the next five years, reflecting the increasing contribution of sequestration to long-term decarbonization.

Also read: Bloom Energy Partners with FPM Development to Install 20 MW of Fuel Cells in Los Angeles

Fuel Cells: An Affordable Carbon Capture Solution

KR Sridhar, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Bloom Energy, said, “Our partnership with Chart aims to demonstrate that cost-effective, onsite baseload power from natural gas with carbon capture is feasible at scale.”

He added, “Bloom fuel cells generate electricity without combustion, producing a concentrated CO2 stream that lowers extraction costs, making carbon capture more affordable and efficient. For energy-intensive industries like data centers and large manufacturers, this will provide a path to reliable, scalable power while significantly reducing carbon emissions. I am excited about the opportunities this partnership can unlock and the positive impact for our planet .”

Jill Evanko, CEO of Chart Industries, emphasized the synergy between the companies, expressing excitement about bringing Chart’s expertise in carbon capture to Bloom’s platform. She noted that Bloom’s platform not only provides reliable power but also produces a concentrated CO₂ stream. She also highlighted the partnership’s potential in sequestration and utilization markets and mentioned that they already use captured CO2 in food and beverage projects.

Carbon capture efficiency depends on CO2 purity in exhaust emissions, which varies greatly across different power generation technologies and methods. Due to low concentration, traditional gas turbines and engines produce exhaust with just 5% CO2, making carbon capture complex, inefficient, and costly.

Contrary to this, Bloom Energy’s high-temperature fuel cells produce electricity without combustion, and hence a CO2-rich exhaust stream is produced. Bloom’s fuel cells enhance carbon capture by emitting CO2 with 10 times greater concentration and 15 times lower mass flow, thus decreasing costs.

DataVolt, a Saudi developer, investor, and operator of data centers, has partnered with NEOM, the sustainable region to develop the first net-zero AI data center in Oxagon, northwest Saudi Arabia. The deal is a significant milestone in the region’s transformation into a data-driven, sustainable economy. The collaboration will build energy-efficient data centers that address global environmental issues in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision.

Phased Development and Massive Investment

The project will roll out in phases, starting with the first phase, which will receive a $5 billion investment. The initial phase, which consists of a cutting-edge 1.5-gigawatt unit, will be operational by 2028. To service the demand for data processing while minimizing its contribution to the environment, the factory will utilize energy-saving equipment and advanced computing.

A Growing Need for Sustainable Solutions

The IEA notes that data centers consume 1 to 1.3 percent of global electricity, with power demand rising due to AI growth. The rising energy consumption and carbon emissions highlight the urgent need for clean, sustainable solutions for the industry’s future.

Vishal Wanchoo, CEO of Oxagon said, “The Kingdom is at the forefront of the global energy transition. At Oxagon, we are accelerating a renewable energy industrial ecosystem that is set to power businesses with green energy and technology solutions.

He added, “The agreement with DataVolt highlights the potential impact of the sustainable infrastructure Oxagon offers its tenants and sets the foundations for the first green-AI workload to come on-stream in KSA along with the necessary computing power for regional and global impact.”

Also read: CarbonCure, Abdullah Abdin, and Gulf Cryo Collaborate to Integrate Carbon Capture Technologies in NEOM’s Sustainable Concrete Production

As part of the agreement, Oxagon will provide the land and infrastructure support for the development of the facility. The data center also aims to run entirely on renewable energy, using advanced cooling technologies to achieve net zero emissions. This will help tackle the global challenges of power availability and the carbon footprint of traditional data centers.

Oxagon’s Red Sea location offers excellent access to subsea cables and fiber connectivity, ideal for DataVolt’s green AI factory. The region’s renewable energy, green hydrogen resources, and growing industrial ecosystem create the perfect environment for this sustainable data center.