U Power's hydrogen-powered data center venture HYDRO DATA presented at Asia's leading data center conference and secured
U Power Limited announced that HYDRO DATA, its hydrogen-powered energy solutions and data center infrastructure venture, participated in Data Center Asia 2026, delivering a keynote speech and joining a high-level industry panel on next-generation energy solutions for AI data centers. The event, organized by Informa Markets, attracted more than 200 exhibitors, over 8,000 professional attendees, and hosted more than 60 industry forums covering AI computing, cloud infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and energy technologies.
Jia Li, Founder and Chairman of U Power and CEO of HYDRO DATA, delivered a keynote titled "Hydrogen-Powered AI Data Centers: A New Business Paradigm – Balancing Economic Viability, Environmental Sustainability and Long-Term Resilience." He addressed the growing power demands of AI-driven data centers and how hydrogen solutions can support sustainable digital infrastructure development. Li also participated in a panel discussion called "Enabling AI Data Centers with Advanced Power and Energy Solutions" alongside Virat Patel of Pioneer Consulting Asia-Pacific, Ben Boudreau, Chief Technology Officer of Zerra DC, and Anthony Ho, Director of Product and Solution Marketing at Equinix. Panelists emphasized that rapidly increasing AI workloads are creating significant challenges for traditional power infrastructure, making reliable, scalable, and low-carbon energy solutions critical for future data center growth.
U Power established HYDRO DATA in May 2026 with strategic investment from the Charoen Pokphand Group family to develop hydrogen-powered energy infrastructure for next-generation AI data centers. Since its establishment, HYDRO DATA secured a letter of intent for a data center energy infrastructure project in Rayong, Thailand, planned with a total IT load capacity of 100MW, with a 3MW demonstration phase already underway.
HYDRO DATA utilizes advanced Proton Exchange Membrane hydrogen fuel cell technology and modular deployment capabilities to provide stable, continuous, and low-carbon power solutions. Compared with conventional power generation, PEM fuel cell systems offer faster deployment, high energy efficiency, reduced emissions, and enhanced energy independence, helping data centers address power supply constraints while meeting ESG and carbon reduction objectives. Li stated that HYDRO DATA is committed to advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology and intelligent energy management solutions to support future global digital infrastructure growth. U Power plans to leverage its expertise in new energy infrastructure and intelligent energy management, together with CP Group's strategic resources, to accelerate deployment of HYDRO DATA's hydrogen-powered energy solutions across the Asia-Pacific region and global markets.