DayOne starts AI-ready, 20MW green data centre build in Singapore

DayOne Data Centres has begun construction of its first data centre facility in Singapore at 21 Jalan Buroh, a 20MW site designed to be AI-ready and powered by up to 100% renewable energy.

The new data centre will cover approximately 40,000 square metres of gross floor area and is scheduled for its initial phase to be ready for service in 2026. The facility will feature high-density, air-cooled GPU support alongside hybrid air and liquid cooling systems, aiming to meet both high-performance computing and sustainability targets.

Renewable energy and new technology

DayOne has secured a Power Purchase Agreement with Sembcorp to supply renewable energy for the entire operation of the centre. The agreement spans ten years and will be backed by renewable energy certificates sourced locally or imported via grid-to-grid connections.

A distinctive feature of the facility will be the pilot implementation of on-site Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power generation. This proof-of-concept aims to promote hydrogen-based energy in Singapore, offering an alternative and potentially more sustainable power source for data centres and supporting national green energy goals.

The company will seek both LEED Platinum and BCA Green Mark Platinum (GMDC:2024) certifications, which represent high environmental and energy performance standards for data centre infrastructure.

Strategic partnerships and support

Capacity for the facility was awarded under the Pilot Data Centre Call for Application by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Economic Development Board (EDB). This recognises DayOne's approach to energy efficiency and sustainability as it moves forward with this flagship project in Singapore, supporting a wider regional strategy that includes digital connectivity between Singapore, Johor, and the Riau Islands.

At the ground-breaking event, public and private sector leaders attended, including Aileen Chia, Deputy Chief Executive of IMDA; Seah Yueh Chinn, Vice President of Digital Industry Singapore; and Christine Wong, Assistant Chief Executive Officer of JTC Corporation. Senior figures from DayOne, Sembcorp, and the National University of Singapore (NUS) were also present.

"This facility marks our commitment to Singapore as both home base and regional hub while highlighting our long-term vision to power Southeast Asia's digital transformation with green infrastructure," said Jamie Khoo, Chief Executive Officer of DayOne Data Centres. "Our SG1 facility is an important milestone and a contribution to the nation's ambition of being an AI-ready, sustainable digital economy. Backed by strong public-private collaboration, we're building infrastructure that is purpose-built for AI workloads, cloud computing and innovation."

DayOne's move has received endorsement from various industry stakeholders. Aileen Chia, Deputy Chief Executive, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), commented, "Congratulations to DayOne on its first data center in Singapore. Data center operators like DayOne play an important role in advancing energy efficiency and green energy solutions in support of our digital economy and the sustainable growth of data centers in Singapore. IMDA will continue to partner the industry to develop sustainable digital infrastructures and the ecosystem to serve the digital needs and growth of Singapore."

Seah Yueh Chinn, Vice President, Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), added, "We welcome DayOne's commitment to expand its digital infrastructure in Singapore. This new facility will enhance Singapore's competitiveness by providing access to compute-intensive technologies like AI, while enabling key sectors to manage critical applications and services locally."

Collaboration with Sembcorp and research initiatives

Koh Chiap Khiong, President & Chief Executive Officer, Gas and Related Services and Chief Executive Officer, Singapore at Sembcorp Industries, noted the importance of sustainable energy provision for the burgeoning data centre sector. He stated, "The rapid rise of AI infrastructure is driving unprecedented energy demand - and meeting this demand sustainably is critical to the future of the data center industry. By providing scalable and reliable renewable energy, we enable data centers to grow responsibly. Our collaboration with DayOne reflects this commitment to powering the next generation of digital infrastructure with clean, future-ready solutions."

Alongside the PPA, DayOne has launched a research and development partnership with the National University of Singapore under the second phase of the Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed (STDCT 2.0). This collaboration will involve pilot-scale testing of next-generation cooling solutions and flexible-fuel generator technologies designed for tropical climates.

Professor Lee Poh Seng, STDCT Program Director and Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering at NUS, outlined the goals of the partnership: "This initiative underscores our collective commitment to reimagine how data centers in the tropics can perform effectively and sustainably. Through the Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed 2.0, we are field testing breakthroughs - from flexible-fuel generators/fuel cells to next generation liquid cooling - to demonstrate sustainability and high performance can go hand in hand. Together, we're laying the foundation for a new class of energy efficient, climate resilient digital infrastructure in Singapore and across the region."

National strategies and sector growth

The development of the DayOne centre is aligned with Singapore's ambition to add a minimum of 300MW of data centre capacity in the near term, as detailed in the government's Digital Connectivity Blueprint. This strategy aims to strengthen regional and global digital connectivity, while promoting sustainable infrastructure growth.

The facility also forms part of Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0, supporting the rollout of high-capacity infrastructure for AI model training and broader digital innovation across different sectors.

DayOne Data Centres has been operating as an independent group since 2025 and designs, builds, and operates data centres across Southeast Asia and North Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore. The company intends for its Singapore data centre to serve as a base for further developing a resilient, low-carbon digital backbone throughout the region.