0
Doosan Fuel Cell's PAFC product. / Doosan

Doosan Fuel Cell is making its first entry into the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) data center power market with its fuel cells. Targeting the demand for "on-site power generation"—which produces electricity directly near data centers in response to rising power demands across the U.S.—the company is setting out to expand its presence in the North American market.

On the 2nd, Doosan Fuel Cell disclosed that it signed a 501.4 billion won contract with HyAxiom, a U.S. subsidiary of Doosan Corporation, to supply phosphoric acid fuel cells (PAFC).

The products will be delivered sequentially to HyAxiom from the second half of this year through the first half of 2028. HyAxiom will subsequently supply them to AI data centers across the U.S.

The deal was finalized as HyAxiom secured an order for fuel cells intended for U.S. data centers. Doosan Fuel Cell will manufacture and supply the fuel cells from its Iksan plant, while HyAxiom will oversee sales, engineering, project execution, commissioning, and long-term service agreements (LTSA) across North America.

Doosan Fuel Cell currently maintains an annual fuel cell production capacity of approximately 275 MW at its Iksan facility. With a cumulative installation track record exceeding 800 MW, the company plans to consider further capacity expansions in line with future demand growth.

The company's focus on the U.S. data center market stems from local power shortage issues. While power demand for data centers is surging rapidly alongside the proliferation of AI, constructing power plants and transmission and distribution networks requires several years, making electricity supply a major bottleneck for data center investments.

Consequently, on-site power generation, which produces electricity directly adjacent to data centers, is emerging as an alternative. Interest in distributed generation facilities such as fuel cells and gas turbines is growing because they can supply electricity without having to wait for grid transmission line expansions.

Doosan Fuel Cell emphasizes the stable, continuous operation and modular architecture of its PAFC systems as core competitive advantages. Facilities can be expanded in phases to match power demands, and because Doosan Fuel Cell and HyAxiom divide roles from production through local project delivery, installation at U.S. client sites can be completed within about one year from contract signing.

Another key advantage is that the heat generated during the fuel cell power generation process can be linked to absorption chillers or heat pumps to cool data centers. If green hydrogen infrastructure expands in the future, transitioning the facilities into hydrogen-fueled models through equipment retrofits will also be possible.

An official from Doosan Fuel Cell stated, "This contract validates our competitiveness in the U.S.—a key market—as a behind-the-meter (BTM) on-site power solution capable of resolving the power bottleneck facing data centers in the AI era," adding, "Leveraging this milestone, we will continue to expand additional orders in the North American market by building on rapid supply capabilities and phased scalability."

                                                                                                             Kim Han-seul