Equinix, National University of Singapore partner to explore sustainability and energy solutions for data centers

• Co-innovation facility set to open in Q1 2027
• Aims to trial efficient, reliable tech with partners & customers

Equinix, Inc., the world’s digital infrastructure company, and the Centre for Energy Research & Technology (CERT) under the National University of Singapore’s College of Design and Engineering (NUS CDE), have announced plans to establish a Co-Innovation Facility (CIF) in Singapore. This initiative aims to accelerate the development and testing of innovative solutions for low-carbon energy, high-efficiency cooling, circularity, and energy efficiency in data centres. The CIF will shape the future of digital infrastructure in Singapore and other tropical regions, aligning with sustainability goals.

Singapore’s digital economy has grown at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 13% since 2017, contributing 17.3% to GDP in 2022. With over US$740 million (RM3.2 billion) allocated for artificial intelligence (AI) development over the next five years, the country continues to strengthen its position as a global business and innovation hub. As digital demands surge, data centres must adopt sustainable strategies to manage energy consumption and processing needs effectively.

The CIF, set to open in Equinix’s upcoming SG6 International Business Exchange™ (IBX) data centre, is part of Equinix’s Data Centre of the Future Initiative. It will serve as an open research hub for global technology innovators, data centre partners, academia, and customers to trial technologies focusing on reliability, energy efficiency, and cost efficiency.

Equinix has committed an initial investment of US$4 million (RM17.8 million) to the CIF, which will explore innovations such as integrating clean and renewable energy sources, alternative power generation, and liquid cooling to address the rising computational demands of AI. The facility will also trial Cognitive Digital Twin capabilities, enabling predictive maintenance and upgrades to overcome challenges in current data centre models.

Yee May Leong, managing director, Singapore, Equinix, said: “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,” she added.

Professor Lee Poh Seng, director, Centre for Energy Research & Technology, NUS College of Design and Engineering, said: “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,” he added.

Key Highlights

• To be opened in Q1 2027, the CIF will trial sustainable innovations for data centres, such as:
  • Alternative power solutions: Fuel cells and battery storage can provide low-carbon power solutions for data centres, serving as bi-directional grid interfaces and on-site prime and/or backup solutions.
  • Direct current power distribution system: This electrical power distribution architecture, known as medium voltage AC to low-voltage DC (MVAC-LVDC), facilitates the seamless integration of battery energy storage systems, solar photovoltaics, and other renewable energy sources with data centre power distribution networks. It has the potential to enhance grid-side power quality, efficiency, and power density for data centres.
  • Liquid cooling: This advanced cooling method reduces energy consumption and noise while optimising space. It also increases the potential for waste heat reuse, supporting circular data centre models.
  • Digital twin capabilities: Data-driven models and machine learning will be utilised to enable predictive maintenance and upgrades.

Equinix and NUS have long supported Singapore’s sustainability agenda and implemented various initiatives to promote sustainable development in the country, including scholarship opportunities in nature-based climate solutions for students at NUS. In 2022, Equinix, together with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and CERT, both under NUS CDE, collaborated to explore hydrogen-based green fuel technologies for mission-critical data centre infrastructure.

The study compared PEM fuel cells and fuel-flexible linear generators, highlighting their efficiency and potential as backup power solutions, particularly in tropical climates. The results were released in 2023.