Data center fuel cell revenue may reach $30 billion by 2030

Rystad Energy's research predicts that data center developers will turn to on-site fuel cells due to grid congestion, with fuel cell market revenue expected to grow from approximately $2.8 billion in 2025 to about $30 billion by 2030, a tenfold increase. Signed orders amount to approximately 9 gigawatts, including framework agreements with Oracle, AEP, Equinix, and Brookfield.

The current access time for large load grids in the United States is three to six years. Rystad Energy expects cumulative fuel cell demand for data centers from 2026 to 2030 to reach 10.4 gigawatts, with about 40% of the U.S. data center capacity in 2030 potentially utilizing on-site generation. North America is expected to account for 91% of global on-site generation installations. The total manufacturing capacity is expected to reach 4 gigawatts per year by 2030, up from the current 1.8 gigawatts. Solid oxide fuel cells account for approximately 53% of cumulative fixed deliveries, with Bloom Energy holding nearly all major load contracts in visible orders.