HRS Advances Hydrogen Backup Power System for Critical Infrastructure
French hydrogen refuelling specialist HRS has begun manufacturing its first Secure Power Unit (SPU), a hydrogen-powered backup electricity solution designed to provide resilient energy supply for critical infrastructure including data centres, industrial facilities and other sites requiring uninterrupted power.
The Grenoble-based company said the demonstrator project marks a significant step in its strategy to expand beyond hydrogen refuelling infrastructure into adjacent clean energy markets. The SPU system will integrate proton exchange membrane fuel cells supplied by Canadian fuel cell manufacturer Ballard Power Systems.
HRS said the modular backup solution is intended to address rising demand for reliable low-emission energy systems as digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and energy-intensive industrial operations continue to expand. Operators of critical infrastructure are increasingly seeking alternatives to conventional diesel backup generators that can combine operational resilience with lower local emissions.
The first SPU demonstrator is scheduled to be installed in 2027 at HRS’s test site in Champagnier, France. The facility will be used to validate core technological components of the system, including hydrogen-to-electricity integration, safety systems, monitoring architecture and operational performance.
The initial development phase focuses on a one-megawatt configuration designed for critical infrastructure applications. HRS said the longer-term objective is to scale the technology towards multi-megawatt systems capable of supporting larger industrial, digital and energy-related operations.
According to the company, the project builds on HRS’s experience in hydrogen storage, distribution, industrial safety and integrated energy systems. The SPU programme is intended to support the company’s broader ambition to strengthen its role across the hydrogen value chain while leveraging expertise developed through its hydrogen refuelling station business.
HRS founder and chief executive Hassen Rachedi said the project represents a practical move into the operational validation phase for the company’s hydrogen-electricity architecture. He said the demonstrator will allow HRS to test and refine technical solutions before preparing a future industrial-scale offering aimed at the growing market for secure low-carbon power systems.
The development reflects increasing industry interest in hydrogen fuel cell systems as a potential alternative to conventional backup power technologies, particularly in sectors where uninterrupted electricity supply is critical and emissions reduction targets are becoming more stringent.
