- Co-innovation hospital set to open in Q1 2027
- Aims to test effective, reliable software with companions &, 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 program aims to accelerate the development and testing of modern answers for low-carbon power, high-efficiency heating, curvature, and energy efficiency in information areas. In accordance with conservation objectives, the Freight will determine how the digital infrastructure may develop in Singapore and other tropical areas.
Singapore’s digital economy has grown at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 13 % since 2017, contributing 17.3 % to GDP in 2022. The nation continues to grow as a global business and innovation hub with over US$ 340 million ( RM3.2 billion ) allocated for the development of artificial intelligence ( AI ) over the next five years. Data centers may adopt sustainable practices to efficiently manage energy consumption and processing needs as digital demands increase.
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 empty study hub for global tech innovators, data center partners, education, and customers to test technologies focusing on consistency, power efficiency, and cost efficiency.
To address the rising computational demands of AI, Equinix has made an initial investment of US$ 4 million ( RM17.8 million ) in the CIF, which will look into innovations like integrating clean and renewable energy sources, alternative power sources, and liquid cooling. The service will even test Cognitive Digital Twin features, which will enable predicted maintenance and upgrades to address problems with the company’s recent data center models.
Lee May Leong, managing director, Singapore, Equinix, said:” The effects of climate change are being felt around the world, and it is becoming increasingly essential to embed best techniques in every aspect of our procedures. We are making a major step forward in advancing our” Potential First” sustainability agenda by reviving our successful Co-Innovation Service from Ashburn and expanding our creative efforts in the Asia-Pacific area.
She continued,” It may accelerate the development of cutting-edge technology and use practical solutions to help lessen the carbon footprint of the growing number of data centers worldwide.”
Professor Lee Poh Seng, producer, Centre for Energy Research &, Technology, NUS College of Design and Engineering, said:” The creation of the Co-Innovation Service highlights our commitment to forging effective business partnerships that convert groundbreaking research into functional uses. Working with Equinix allows us to draw on our knowledge of sustainability and power development to address pressing issues affecting data centers in humid climates.
” Collectively, we aim to redefine measures for functional efficiency and sustainability in digital equipment, aligning with Singapore’s interests for sustainable development and industrial leadership. This agreement is a powerful move ahead in shaping a prospect where cutting-edge development meets economic responsibility”, he added.
Important Features
- To get opened in Q1 2027, the CIF did test lasting improvements for data areas, such as:
- Other energy options: Energy cells and battery storage can provide low-carbon energy solutions for data centres, serving as bi-directional network interfaces and on-site perfect 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.
- This cutting-edge cooling technique optimizes space while reducing energy consumption and noise. By allowing circular data center models, it also increases the possibility of recycling leftover heat.
- 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 goals and implemented a number of initiatives, including scholarships for NUS students interested in finding solutions based on nature-based climate change. 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. In 2023, the results were released.