Hydrogen Fuel Cells to Power Denmark’s Fiber Infrastructure in SFC Energy-Norlys Deal

SFC Energy AG is stepping into Scandinavia with a serious game-changer—and yes, it runs on hydrogen.

The German company, known for its innovative fuel cell solutions, landed a major contract with Norlys Fibernet A/S—Denmark’s top fiber network provider. The deal covers the rollout of clean, hydrogen-powered backup systems across the country’s telecom infrastructure, giving critical broadband nodes a rock-solid Plan B whenever the grid goes down—all without a single emission.

Fueling the Fiber Network—The Hydrogen Way

The order includes a fleet of EFOY Hydrogen 5.0 Fuel Cells, totaling 235 kW in output. These systems will start showing up between August and December 2025, installed at Point of Presence (PoP) stations—the nerve centers of Denmark’s fiber optic highway. These sites are mission-critical, handling massive amounts of data traffic, so keeping the power flowing is crucial.

In the past, these PoPs would’ve depended on diesel generators or battery packs, but Norlys is turning the page. Why? Hydrogen brings a handful of big wins—lower maintenance, unbeatable uptime, and that all-important zero-emission technology. It’s also a big tick for the company’s ESG goals, according to COO Magnus Just Olesen.

And there’s an extra bonus: Unlike battery systems that rely on rare earth minerals, these hydrogen units use ultracapacitors to keep things stable—making them cleaner and easier on the supply chain.

A Big Win for SFC Energy’s Strategy

For SFC Energy, this isn’t just another order—it’s a major milestone, marking the first big success for its Danish branch, SFC Energy Denmark ApS, which launched in 2024. It’s the payoff from a smart move back in 2023 when the company acquired stationary fuel cell tech from Ballard Power Systems Europe A/S, complete with local expertise and existing customers.

“This isn’t just a sale—it proves we made the right bet by entering the hydrogen market and picking up Ballard’s tech,” said Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy AG. “We’re now in a strong position to grow across the infrastructure sectors in Scandinavia.”

The deal also underscores a bigger trend: hydrogen fuel cells are fast becoming a serious alternative to diesel in stationary applications. With environmental regulations tightening and performance expectations climbing, many are starting to see the writing on the wall—diesel’s days are numbered.

Denmark Doubles Down on Clean Power

Denmark has never exactly been shy about going green. With years of investment in wind and solar, the country is already a poster child for sustainable energy. Now, by using zero-emission backup power in telecom infrastructure, it’s pushing even further into climate-forward territory.

This move isn’t some small pilot, either. Norlys has already installed hydrogen systems at over 160 PoP locations, originally using Ballard tech. With this new order, they’re scaling up fast—with the latest equipment now coming straight from SFC.

Thanks to the flexibility of solutions like the EFOY H2Rack R5 and R10, Norlys can right-size each system based on location. These fuel cells are quiet, eco-friendly (emitting only water and a bit of heat), and fire up automatically during blackouts—keeping the country online when it matters most.

When Business Meets Climate Action

This partnership is a win-win. Norlys gets stronger energy security and a big sustainability boost. SFC gets to show the world what its fuel cell technology can do—especially in sectors where downtime just isn’t an option.

But the impact could go far beyond Denmark. With neighboring countries keeping a close eye on how to upgrade their own infrastructure, this may well be the blueprint for a broader rollout of hydrogen infrastructure across Europe.

We’re watching a slow but steady shift away from diesel—and as more real-world examples like this prove the value of hydrogen fuel cells, the momentum will only build. From backup power to broadband reliability, hydrogen is no longer just a future promise. It’s here, quietly doing the work, even when the grid isn’t.

About SFC Energy AG

SFC Energy AG is a global leader in hydrogen and methanol fuel cell solutions, based near Munich, Germany, with offices in eight countries. With over 75,000 fuel cells sold worldwide, it’s listed on the Deutsche Boerse Prime Standard and has been part of the SDAX index since 2022.