Equinix & NUS to launch sustainable data centre hub

Equinix and the National University of Singapore have unveiled plans to establish a Co-Innovation Facility (CIF) in Singapore to focus on sustainable solutions for data centres.

The CIF is set to be located within Equinix's forthcoming SG6 data centre in Singapore. This initiative aligns with Equinix's global framework to create cleaner and more efficient data centres through its Data Centre of the Future Initiative. The facility aims to be an open research space to foster collaboration among technology innovators, data centre partners, academia, and customers in developing solutions geared towards enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability.

The collaboration comes amidst a backdrop of significant growth in Singapore's digital economy, which has expanded at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 13% since 2017 and contributed 17.3% to the country's GDP in 2022. Singapore is also making strides to establish itself as a global business and innovation hub, with plans for a substantial investment exceeding SGD $740 million in Artificial Intelligence over the next five years. The increasing digital demands accentuate the necessity for sustainable data centre operations.

The CIF will endeavour to incorporate various cutting-edge technologies, including liquid cooling and cognitive digital twins, to address energy consumption and cooling challenges, particularly in tropical locales. Equinix has allocated an initial investment of USD $4 million to kickstart this project.

Yee May Leong, Managing Director, Singapore, Equinix, stated, "The effects of climate change are being felt around the world, and it is becoming increasingly urgent to embed best practices in every aspect of our operations. By replicating our successful Co-Innovation Facility from Ashburn and expanding our collaborative efforts in the Asia-Pacific region, we are reaching a significant milestone in advancing our 'Future First' sustainability agenda. It will accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies and apply real-world solutions to help reduce the carbon footprint of the growing number of data centres worldwide."

Professor Lee Poh Seng, Director, Centre for Energy Research & Technology, NUS College of Design and Engineering, remarked, "The establishment of the Co-Innovation Facility highlights our commitment to forging impactful industry partnerships that translate groundbreaking research into practical applications. Collaborating with Equinix enables us to leverage our expertise in energy innovation and sustainability to address critical challenges faced by data centres in tropical climates. Together, we aim to redefine benchmarks for operational efficiency and sustainability in digital infrastructure, aligning with Singapore's ambitions for sustainable development and technological leadership. This partnership is a powerful step forward in shaping a future where cutting-edge innovation meets environmental responsibility."

Among the technologies to be trialled are alternative power generation solutions such as fuel cells and battery storage, which may serve as low-carbon power solutions. The CIF will also explore direct current power distribution systems designed to integrate renewable energy sources seamlessly with data centre power networks. Another focus will be on liquid cooling, an advanced method expected to optimise energy consumption and facilitate waste heat reuse. Cognitive digital twin capabilities will also be assessed for predictive maintenance applications.

Equinix and the National University of Singapore have previously collaborated on sustainability initiatives, most notably in studying hydrogen-based green fuel technologies for data centres. As part of their broader environmental strategy, Equinix has committed to an approved near-term science-based target for emissions reduction by 2030.