Battery storage undercuts gas turbines across 43 markets, Wood Mackenzie says
The consultancy found four-hour batteries cheaper than open-cycle gas turbines, while solar ranked as the least expensive source of new power.
Petra Power eyes 2028 fuel-cell rollout for data centers
The company has received Defense Department contracts worth nearly $9 million, but its vehicle power systems remain in testing.
Petra Power is targeting its first data center fuel-cell deployments for 2028, founder Aaron Goodman said. The company has also received Defense Department contracts worth nearly $9 million as it tests the technology for military land vehicles.
Goodman said Petra is working with neoclouds and infrastructure providers smaller than hyperscalers, without identifying particular agreements. He hopes the company can reach full-scale production in 2029. Discussions with hyperscalers are continuing, but no firm arrangements are in place, he said.
For defense applications, the cells are intended to supply electricity to onboard equipment while a vehicle’s main engine is off. Goodman said the technology has not yet been deployed on an operational vehicle. Testing continues while the government considers whether to proceed.
Established in 2017, Petra sells ceramic solid oxide fuel cells that produce electricity from fuels including natural gas without combustion. Goodman said they use smaller, lighter equipment and offer lower emissions and fuel costs than conventional power sources. He attributed their potential efficiency advantage to drawing electrons directly from fuel rather than passing through several energy-conversion stages. Petra employs about 15 people and is expanding, he said.