Apple Data Center Powered by Biogas

Fifty fuel cells adjacent to Apple's $1 billion data center in Maiden, North Carolina, are expected to be operating by January, 2013. It will be fueled by biogas in which cleaned methane gas from a landfill is injected into a natural gas pipeline, according to MSNBC.

The biogas will generate ten megawatts (MW) of electricity which is enough energy to power approximately 6,000 homes. Apple filed a request earlier this month with the North Carolina Utilities Commission to increase the size of its fuel cell farm from 4.8 MW to 10 MW. Apple began the start-up and testing of the fuel cells in October 2012.

Image: U.S. Embassy Sweden