Apple Doubling Size of Fuel Cell Facility at North Carolina Data Center - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Doubling Size of Fuel Cell Facility at North Carolina Data Center

The Charlotte Observer reports that Apple has filed plans to double the size of its fuel cell facility at its data center in Maiden, North Carolina to 10 megawatts.

Fifty fuel cells adjacent to its $1 billion data center in Maiden are expected to be operating by January, Apple said in papers filed with the N.C. Utilities Commission. It will be fueled by “directed biogas” in which cleaned methane gas from a landfill is injected into a natural gas pipeline. [...]

California-based Apple says the initial 4.8-megawatt phase in Maiden began start-up and testing in October. In November it applied for an amended state permit to increase the project’s size.

apple cupertino fuel cells
Fuel cells at Apple's corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California

In North Carolina, Apple is combining its fuel cell facility with two massive solar farms to help achieve the company's goal of using 100% renewable energy at all of its data centers. At its originally planned 4.8-megwatt capacity, Apple's fuel cell facility in North Carolina was already said to be the largest in the United States not owned by a utility company.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....

Top Rated Comments

Battlefield Fan Avatar
180 months ago
In other news Greenpeace is still extremely unhappy with Apple...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spatlese44 Avatar
180 months ago
Now if someone could get to working on Mr. fusion....

The most abundant source of energy could be trash lol

I'm sure they could run one of these data centers for a few decades just burning discarded AOL CDs.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rocketman Avatar
180 months ago
Methane is the most abundant uncollected or wasted energy source on the planet. That way no matter the source these fuel cells can use them. Recovering methane from landfills is a solution waiting for a need and thus is seen as "very green" in this political environment (Solyndra, etc.). No matter the source methane is among the most green and efficient and available fuel sources.

Rocketman

cite:

http://www.bloomenergy.com/clean-energy/

http://www.bloomenergy.com/fuel-cell/solid-oxide-fuel-cell-animation/
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
180 months ago
Those fuel cells actually look very Apple-like. iCell! Also, great to know they are fuelling it with biogas, much better for the environment than solar and natural gas.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
180 months ago
All power-hungry things like data centers should be run on renewable energy.

"All things should be run on renewable energy."


Fixed that for you.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
180 months ago
And Al Gore makes a few bucks

Must be nice to sit on a board you get to sell your green energy products to. Conflict of Interest?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)