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In a recent address, Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary elaborated on the critical importance of sustainable data centres in the age of AI. The rapid development and widespread adoption of AI highlight the technology’s dynamic growth and increasing accessibility, reinforcing Singapore’s commitment to harnessing AI for the public good.
Last December, Singapore launched its National AI Strategy 2.0 (NAIS 2.0), a major initiative aimed at establishing the nation as a global leader in artificial intelligence. This updated strategy seeks to leverage AI’s transformative potential through significant investments, including up to SG$500 million to improve access to computational resources for AI innovation.
The burgeoning growth of AI exemplifies the opportunities enabled by data centres, which are crucial for harnessing trends like digitalisation and the increasing use of autonomous systems. However, the expansion of data centre capacity must be balanced with energy and carbon constraints.
Singapore, with its limited size and resources, faces unique challenges in this regard but is determined to transform these constraints into opportunities for innovation. The goal is to capture the value from data centre growth while adhering to international climate commitments.
Last year, Singapore’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint outlined a path for the growth of green data centres, pushing the sustainability envelope. The recently launched Green Data Centre Roadmap continues this effort by charting a sustainable growth pathway for data centres. This roadmap aligns with the ambitions of NAIS 2.0 and supports the digital economy in two key ways: accelerating energy efficiency and the use of green energy, and fostering collaborative solutions across the data centre ecosystem.
The first approach focuses on enhancing the efficiency of data centres through the use of state-of-the-art equipment, software upgrades, and improved power and water utilisation. By operating at higher temperatures, data centres can reduce the energy required for cooling, thus becoming more energy-efficient.
The second approach emphasises partnerships with solution providers, energy suppliers, and enterprise end-users to design and operate data centres more efficiently. Collaborative efforts are essential for accelerating the shift towards sustainability, as seen in various industries. By aligning the entire value chain, significant progress can be made in adopting best practices for energy efficiency.
Sustainability actions for data centres in Singapore’s tropical climate include operating at higher temperatures to reduce cooling energy and enhance overall efficiency. Data centres can also leverage incentives like the Resource Efficiency Grant for Emissions to support upgrades.
However, end-users also play a crucial role in driving sustainability improvements by adopting energy-efficient IT equipment and techniques like virtualisation to optimise server efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Grant, set to extend to the data centre sector later this year, will help end-users accelerate their transition to more energy-efficient equipment.
Singapore is committed to partnering with the industry to push the boundaries for sustainable data centre growth. The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and industry partners are co-developing new standards for IT energy efficiency and liquid cooling, expected to be introduced by the end of 2025. Additionally, efforts are underway to facilitate the adoption of low-carbon energy sources, such as bioenergy, vertical building-integrated photovoltaics, fuel cells with carbon capture, and low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia.
Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 and the Green Data Centre Roadmap reflect a commitment to sustainable growth in the data centre sector. By fostering industry partnerships and adopting innovative practices, Singapore aims to deliver the benefits of AI and digitalisation while meeting environmental goals. This concerted effort positions Singapore as a leader in AI-driven medical innovation and sustainable data centre growth, ultimately benefiting both the nation and the global community.
