Bloom Energy and Brookfield’s $5 Billion Play to Redefine How AI Factories are Powered

The two companies announced a strategic partnership this week that will see Bloom’s advanced fuel cell technology powering AI factories around the globe.
Oct. 15, 2025
3 min read

Bloom Energy and Brookfield Asset Management announced a $5 billion strategic partnership this week that promises to use Bloom’s fuel cell technology powering artificial intelligence (AI) factories around the globe.

AI factories are data centers designed to train, deploy and scale artificial intelligence models by combining advanced computing infrastructure, massive datasets and automation workflows. In essence, they function like a production line for AI—turning raw data into intelligent applications that can power everything from autonomous systems to predictive analytics.

Demand from these power-hungry facilities is expected to grow to more than 120 GW by 2035. By comparison, power demand from AI data centers was just 4 GW in 2024.

“Unlike traditional factories, AI factories demand massive power, rapid deployment and real-time load responsiveness that legacy grids cannot support,” said KR Sridhar, founder, chairman and CEO of Bloom Energy, in a statement.

Behind-the-meter power solutions, such as on-site fuel cells, can meet those energy needs faster, and with fewer carbon emissions than other generation solutions.

Overcoming a grid-constrained market

Fuel cells generate electricity through an electrochemical reaction—rather than combustion—by converting the chemical energy in natural gas directly into electric power. Companies like Bloom Energy are also developing next-generation hydrogen-capable fuel cells, which would produce electricity with zero carbon emissions at the point of use.

They are highly efficient and low-carbon, capable of delivering reliable power, onsite power to data centers, manufacturing facilities and even large utilities in as little as 90 days.

The company’s fuel cells have been deployed by data centers in Illinois, California and at roughly 1,200 other sites globally.

“Bloom’s advanced fuel cell technology gives us the unique capability to design and construct modern AI factories with a holistic and innovative approach to power needs,” said Sikander Rashid, global head of AI infrastructure at Brookfield Asset Management. “As the world’s largest AI infrastructure investor, this partnership adds a powerful new tool to our global growth strategy, especially in a grid-constrained market environment.”

A new blueprint for powering AI

In a statement, Brookfield said it has already invested $100 billion in global digital infrastructure and has over $550 billion of critical assets and services in operation across the U.S.

The partnership with Bloom marks the beginning of a shared effort to create AI factories built to support the surging compute and power requirements of next-generation artificial intelligence.

“The lean AI factory is achieved with power, infrastructure and compute designed in sync from day one,” Sridhar said. “That principle guides our collaboration with Brookfield to reimagine the data center of the future. Together, we are creating a new blueprint for powering AI at scale.”

The companies expect to announce their first European AI factory site by the end of the year, according to a statement.

The AI arms race is in full swing—and data center operators, utilities and the federal government are all scrambling to ensure the country has the power it needs to be competitive.

In July, the Trump administration announced a $70 billion energy initiative to power the expansion of AI technologies, and Google signed an agreement with Brookfield that will deliver 3 GW of hydro power for its future data center loads.

In 2024, Microsoft signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy that will see the restart of Three Mile Island’s nuclear-powered Unit 1. 

About the Author

Kathy Hitchens

Special Projects Editor

I work as a writer and special projects editor for Microgrid Knowledge. I have over 30 years of writing experience, working with a variety of companies in the renewable energy, electric vehicle and utility sector, as well as those in the entertainment, education, and financial industries. I have a BFA in Media Arts from the University of Arizona and a MBA from the University of Denver.

Subscribe to the Microgrid Knowledge Newsletter