Digital Realty, Equinix, STT GDC, Keppel Win 200MW Singapore Data Centre Rights
Singapore has awarded four companies – Digital Realty, Equinix, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres and Keppel Data Centres – the rights to develop 50MW each of new data centre capacity on Jurong Island. The 200MW total allocation meets the minimum capacity proposed under the DC-CFA2 application proces
Digital Realty, Equinix, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) and Keppel Data Centres have won approval to develop 200MW of new data centre capacity in Singapore, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Infocomm Media Development Authority announced on Friday. Each of the four operators – two local and two foreign – has been awarded 50MW after authorities received more than 20 proposals under the application process known as DC-CFA2.
All four allocations are tied to development on Jurong Island, following the government’s announcement in October of a low-carbon data centre park there. The EDB has set aside 20 hectares (49 acres) for the park, with plans for up to 700MW of power capacity. The approvals mark the second round of data centre awards since Singapore lifted its 2019 moratorium on new data centre development, which had been imposed due to concerns over electricity consumption and environmental impact.
The government tied the provisional allocations to the winners agreeing to exceed the sustainability goals and efficiency requirements laid out when the selection process was announced in December. “The four supported data centres have committed to exceed the minimum sustainability requirements imposed for DC-CFA2, and will power more than 50 percent of their DC capacity from green energy sources,” the government said in a statement. The winners will use sources such as biomethane, low-carbon ammonia, low-carbon hydrogen or building-integrated photovoltaics, and adopt advanced technologies including liquid cooling and 100 percent energy-efficient IT equipment to meet Singapore’s Green Mark DC Platinum Certification.
Digital Realty, which ranks as the largest data centre REIT in the US behind Equinix, indicated plans for a new project on Jurong Island. The company currently has one facility in Jurong East and two in the Loyang area near Changi airport, with existing capacity in Singapore exceeding 70MW. Equinix, which operates five data centres in Singapore with a sixth under way in Jalan Tukang in the west, will add a seventh facility on Jurong Island. STT GDC currently has six data centres in Singapore with a combined capacity of over 110MW; the company in January said it was launching an infrastructure testbed on Jurong Island but had not previously announced plans for a project in the data centre park.
Keppel said the award will support development of its newest data centre, Keppel DC SGP 11, on southern Jurong Island, with an expected investment of more than S$1 billion (US$790 million). “On Jurong Island, we have the opportunity to harness our data centre and subsea cable expertise alongside Keppel’s established power and energy infrastructure to develop digital infrastructure that is efficient, resilient, increasingly sustainable and well-connected,” said Manjot Singh Mann, CEO of the company’s connectivity division. Keppel operates eight data centres in Singapore across five locations with 200MW of combined operating capacity.
When making the call for applications in December, Singapore authorities noted they would judge entries on their ability to strengthen the city-state’s standing as a trusted hub for AI and data centre investment, as well as contributions to economic objectives and acceleration of green energy use. “Beyond capacity, we will work with customers, technology partners, research institutions and the wider ecosystem to translate this investment into enduring economic value for Singapore,” said Bruno Lopez, president and group chief executive officer of STT GDC. The EDB and Infocomm Media Development Authority said in Friday’s statement that they will review the need for a third call for capacity proposals in 18 months to two years.
