CapitaLand’s data centre is the first to pilot in Singapore under SP’s Energy Partnership Programme
CapitaLand, SP Group (SP) and Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly study the use of integrated energy solutions to power data centres. CapitaLand’s data centre is the first to pilot in Singapore under SP’s Energy Partnership Programme. The integrated energy solutions will potentially include a combination of solar photovoltaic, green hydrogen and energy storage amongst others. These will be further enhanced with smart technologies to increase energy efficiency and effectiveness.
CapitaLand’s drive for sustainability
The study covered under the MOU will initially focus on developing solutions to power CapitaLand’s flagship data centre, 9 Tai Seng Drive with green energy. 9 Tai Seng Drive has been certified with the top rating of Green Mark Platinum for data centres by the Building and Construction Authority and Infocomm Media Development Authority. The feasibility study results planned for the second half of 2021, would potentially be applicable to benefit other data centres in Singapore.
This initiative dovetails with CapitaLand’s 2030 Sustainability Master Plan to elevate its commitment to global sustainability. Among CapitaLand’s 2030 sustainability targets unveiled on 1 October 2020, it aims to reduce its carbon emissions intensity by 78% by 2030, reduce its energy consumption intensity at its operating properties by 35% and increase its proportion of total electricity consumption from renewable sources by 35% by 2030. CapitaLand also aims to green its entire global portfolio by 2030, including its data centres.
Mr Kelvin Fong, Managing Director, Data Centre, CapitaLand Group, said: “As a responsible company, CapitaLand is partnering SP and Sembcorp to further enhance the sustainability of our data centres to support the growth of a clean digital economy. The ability to leverage smart energy solutions and tap renewable energy sources at our data centres will extend CapitaLand’s competitive advantage within the data centre industry while meeting our commitments towards global sustainability. Besides powering our data centres with renewable energy, we aim to offer energy-efficient designs and facility operations at our data centres. CapitaLand remains committed to contribute to the environmental and social well-being of the communities we operate in.”
SP’s Energy Partnership Programme
This collaboration between CapitaLand, SP and Sembcorp is the first under SP’s Energy Partnership Programme. The programme aims to help corporates meet their green ambitions and overcome energy-related business challenges using integrated energy solutions. Leveraging SP’s technical expertise in smart energy solutions, research and testing will be undertaken at SP’s Concept Lab1. Corporates enjoy the benefits of researching and testing the viability of sustainable solutions before advancing to real-world applications.
Mr Chuah Kee Heng, Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Energy Solutions, SP Group, said: “We are pleased to work with CapitaLand and Sembcorp to green CapitaLand’s data centres. Under SP Group’s Energy Partnership Programme, we provide expertise and a conducive environment to help corporates solve their energy challenges and contribute to a low carbon, smart energy Singapore.”
Sembcorp harnesses the power of collaboration
As an integrated energy player across the utilities and energy value chain, Sembcorp brings expertise in providing urban sustainability solutions to energy-intensive businesses with customised combinations of solar energy, energy storage, sustainable energy retail and other innovative energy solutions. One of the targeted outcomes for Sembcorp in this partnership is to determine how green hydrogen fuel cell technologies can be most efficiently deployed in Singapore to reduce the carbon footprint of data centres.
Mr Lim Yeow Keong, Senior Vice President, Singapore and Southeast Asia (Energy), Sembcorp Industries, said: “Sembcorp looks forward to this collaboration with CapitaLand and SP. A key goal of this project is to find the most efficient way to lower the carbon footprint of data centres without compromising their operational resilience. With growing demand for data centres, finding carbon-efficient solutions to power them is key to enable a sustainable future.”
CapitaLand’s joint study with SP and Sembcorp is another of its efforts to strengthen the use of renewable energy and reduce its carbon footprint. In collaboration with Sembcorp, over 21,000 solar panels were installed atop CapitaLand’s six industrial properties2 held under Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (Ascendas Reit) in Singapore in 2019. It is the largest combined rooftop solar facility in Singapore by a real estate company. These solar farms can collectively generate around 10,292 megawatt hours of energy annually, equivalent to powering about 2,300 four-room HDB flats each year3. CapitaLand’s corporate offices in Singapore will be 100% powered by renewable energy. Three of its corporate offices will be 100% powered by renewable energy by end 2020 through Renewable Energy Certificates from the clean energy generated atop these industrial properties.
Greening data centres for a low-carbon future
The joint study is timely, given current trends in data network electricity use. According to a June 2020 report by the International Energy Agency, global data centre electricity demand in 2019 contributed close to one per cent of global demand4. Demand for data services is expected to continue its exponential growth over the coming years, which in turn will lead to an accelerated growth in data centre loads.
1SP’s Concept Lab is the group’s innovation space to test new concepts and technologies and develop solutions for its customers.
2The six properties are LogisTech, 1 Changi Business Park Avenue 1, 9 Changi South Street 3, 2 Senoko South Road, 40 Penjuru Lane, and Techpoint.
3Average annual electricity consumption of a four-room HDB household is based on Singapore’s Energy Market Authority’s 2019 Singapore Energy Statistics.
4Data Centres and Data Transmission Networks (https://www.iea.org/reports/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks). Global data centre electricity demand in 2019 was approximately 200 TWh, which is equivalent to the annual consumption of about 47 million 4-room HDB flats and 83.76 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
About CapitaLand Limited (www.capitaland.com)
CapitaLand Limited (CapitaLand) is one of Asia’s largest diversified real estate groups. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, it owns and manages a global portfolio worth about S$133.3 billion as at 30 September 2020. CapitaLand’s portfolio spans across diversified real estate classes which includes commercial, retail; business park, industrial and logistics; integrated development, urban development; as well as lodging and residential. With a presence across more than 220 cities in over 30 countries, the Group focuses on Singapore and China as its core markets, while it continues to expand in markets such as India, Vietnam, Australia, Europe and the USA.
CapitaLand has one of the largest real estate investment management businesses globally. It manages six listed real estate investment trusts (REITs) and business trusts as well as over 20 private funds. CapitaLand launched Singapore’s first REIT in 2002 and today, its stable of REITs and business trusts comprises CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust, Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust, Ascendas India Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust.
CapitaLand places sustainability at the core of what it does. As a responsible real estate company, CapitaLand contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.
About SP Group (www.spgroup.com.sg)
SP Group is a leading utilities group in the Asia Pacific, enabling a low-carbon, smart energy future for its customers. It owns and operates electricity and gas transmission and distribution businesses in Singapore and Australia, and sustainable energy solutions in Singapore and China.
As Singapore’s national grid operator, about 1.6 million industrial, commercial and residential customers benefit from its world-class transmission, distribution and market support services. These networks are amongst the most reliable and cost-effective world-wide.
Beyond traditional utilities services, SP Group provides a suite of sustainable energy solutions such as cooling and heating systems for business districts and residential townships, electric vehicle fast charging and green digital energy management tools for customers in Singapore and the region.
For more information, please visit spgroup.com.sg or follow us on Facebook at fb.com/SPGroupSG, on LinkedIn at spgrp.sg/linkedin and on Twitter @SPGroupSG.
About Sembcorp Industries (www.sembcorp.com)
Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) is a leading energy and urban development player, driven by its purpose to do good and play its part in creating a sustainable future.
Leveraging its sector expertise and global track record, Sembcorp delivers innovative energy and urban solutions that support the energy transition and sustainable development.
Sembcorp has a balanced thermal and renewable energy portfolio of over 12,600MW, with more than 2,600MW of renewable energy capacity globally. The company also has a proven track record of transforming raw land into sustainable urban developments, with a project portfolio spanning over 12,000 hectares across Asia.
Sembcorp is listed on the main board of the Singapore Exchange. It is a component stock of the Straits Times Index and sustainability indices including the FTSE4Good Index, the Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index and the iEdge SG ESG indices. For more information, please visit www.sembcorp.com
