The Co-Innovation Facility will incubate liquid cooling, cognitive digital twin, and other innovations for digital infrastructure that support sustainability in tropical locations
- To be opened in Q1 2027, the CIF will trial sustainable innovations for data centres, such as:
- Alternative power solutions: Alternative power generation solutions such as 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: An electrical power distribution architecture known as medium voltage AC to low-voltage DC (MVAC-LVDC), facilitates the seamless integration of battery energy storage system (BESS), solar photovoltaics (PV) and other renewable energy sources (RES) coupled to the data centre power distribution network, with 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 model 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 support the growth of 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.
- Equinix operates 268 data centres across 73 metros, providing digital infrastructure for more than 10,000 of the world’s leading businesses. Since 2021, Equinix has been driving toward an approved near-term science-based target (SBT) for emissions reduction by 2030.
Quotes:
Yee May Leong, Managing Director, South Asia, Equinix
“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 and Technology, College of Design and Engineering, NUS
“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.”
