IMDA enlists support to explore green data centre

SINGAPORE— The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) is looking into the possibility of developing a high-rise green data centre here, which would seek to address the island’s land constraints and humid climate.

Due to the climate here, data centres — which typically house computer systems, and telecommunications and storage systems — consume large amounts of energy to cool information technology equipment, for example.

Yesterday, IMDA signed a memorandum of intent with Chinese infocomm technology (ICT) solutions provider Huawei and Keppel Data Centres to explore the feasibility of building a multi-level data centre tapping on energy-efficient technologies.

The signing was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. In his speech, he noted the benefits of such data centres, especially as these facilities are central to a growing digital economy.

“The average data centre in Singapore needs about a hectare of land or about the size of four Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks, and energy-related costs can contribute to close to half the operating expenditure. Reducing energy and land requirements are therefore critical areas, especially for a tropical, land scarce country like Singapore,” said Mr Teo.

For instance, a typical 20 megawatt data centre here consumes electricity equivalent to the amount used daily by about 60,000 HDB households. The feasibility study would also look into cutting down the space required, by creating a data centre with more than 20 storeys. If built, the centre could reduce power consumption by about half, said Huawei chief strategy and marketing officer Lim Chee Siong. Capital, and operating expenditure could be cut by up to 30 per cent.

“Initial investment would be slightly higher than for a normal data centre, but in the longer term, the costs of running this centre would be lower. It would be something very unique, more or less a world first,” said Mr Lim.

Huawei has technological expertise in innovative green data centre solutions, and it also has experience in building traditional data centres, mostly in China and South-east Asia.

Keppel Data Centres’ contribution to the collaboration will include the identification of possible data centre building sites as well as studies into the design, construction and operation of the facility, the company said.

With demand for services such as cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence picking up pace, electricity demand of data centres in Singapore is projected to reach 12 per cent of total demand by 2020.

In 2015, data centres accounted for 9 per cent of total electricity demand.

Separately, IMDA and Huawei also signed a memorandum of intent to support Singapore-based companies in their overseas forays. Under the partnership, 35 companies will be selected to develop products and solutions that will address issues in sectors such as healthcare, logistics, financial services, and public safety, among others.

Ms Samantha Fok, director of ICT industry development at IMDA, said: “Our companies are small, so they need to leverage multinational companies to go global quickly. We are also open to work with other MNCs, so Huawei is just a starting point.”

The companies will be selected for their relevant and innovative solutions, with the potential to quickly scale up globally, she said.

In addition, IMDA and Huawei will jointly promote “deeper talent and capability building” among ICT students in Singapore. The initiative will include 45 overseas training stints and internship opportunities.

Huawei Technologies chairwoman Sun Yafang noted that Singapore has “ambitions to be the world’s first Smart Nation”.

She said: “We share strong visions that support Singapore’s ambition.”