Equinix commits to Singapore renewable energy deal with Sembcorp

Equinix, the digital infrastructure firm, has further underscored its commitment to a sustainable future by entering into a renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) in Singapore with Sembcorp Industries, an established provider of energy and urban solutions. The agreement will facilitate an offtake from a 75 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar energy project, marking Equinix's first such endeavour in Singapore's rapidly expanding renewable energy sector. This undertaking complements the Singapore Green Plan 2030 which encourages businesses to leverage greener energy resources.

This long-term PPA is one of Singapore's largest data centre renewable energy agreements, sourced from the Housing Development Board's (HDB) SolarNova 7 programme. It means solar panels installed across 1,290 HDB blocks and 99 government sites will supply renewable energy. Expected to commence from January 1, 2027, the PPA is designed to enhance Equinix's renewable energy coverage across its data centre portfolio in Singapore.

Equinix's announcement of the PPA in Singapore marks its 22nd such agreement globally. The PPAs are predicted to contribute more than 3,000,000 megawatt hours (MWhs) of renewable energy annually to local grids in countries including the US, Australia, France, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and now Singapore, once they become operational.

Raouf Abdel, Executive Vice President, Global Operations at Equinix, said: "Equinix made our commitment to 100% clean and renewable energy in 2015 and since then, we have been continuously exploring new opportunities to scale and improve the quality of those resources. Our recent PPA agreements in Singapore and Australia are significant steps toward our 2030 goal of 100% clean and renewable coverage globally."

Equinix's green efforts extend beyond sourcing renewable energy, with a keen focus on enhancing energy efficiency within its data centres. The company recently partnered with the Centre for Energy Research & Technology (CERT) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to probe the feasibility of using hydrogen for sustainable power generation.

"I'm thrilled to witness yet another green milestone that Equinix has achieved in Singapore to support the energy reset pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. By harnessing the potential of renewable energy sources locally, Equinix will be able to meet AI requirements sustainably and help businesses keep up with the rapid pace of digital innovations to support the Singapore digital economy," said Yee May Leong, Managing Director, Singapore, Equinix.

Vickrem Vijayan, Head of Energy Commercial, Singapore, Sembcorp, added: "We are pleased to support Equinix with its first renewable energy PPA in Singapore, as it transitions towards its 2030 sustainability goals. Our unique suite of competitive and green energy solutions will underpin Equinix's sustainability efforts and environmental stewardship within its data centres, which are a fast-growing cornerstone of the digital economy."

Energy PPAs between electricity buyers and energy generators are a forward-thinking strategy for data centres to procure renewable energy. In 2015, Equinix was the first in the sector to set a goal of 100% clean and renewable energy by 2030. It has since pledged to become climate-neutral, aligning with a science-based emissions reduction target across its global operations and supply chain by 2030.