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Today, let's take a closer look at two data centres I visited this week.
A tale of two data centres
Two data centres. Two countries. I visited them on consecutive days earlier this week. One in Singapore, the other across the Causeway in Johor, currently the fastest-growing data centre market in the region.
One visit was arranged months ago, the other put together last week, but the timing worked out perfectly. The back-to-back visits sparked unexpected insights.
If there's one impression they left, it's that we're merely at the start of the innovation journey for data centres. A lot remains possible using tried-and-tested technologies - no aspirational moonshots or voodoo required.
Let's talk about them.
For energy efficiency
Did you know that the two supercomputers at the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) operate at a PUE below 1.18? To be clear, both Aspire 2A and the newer Aspire 2A+ rely on liquid cooling. But it's the focus on energy efficiency that struck me: both data halls have no air-conditioners (Technically, it's called CRAHs).
Both supercomputers are located in adjacent data halls.
The Aspire 2A is an HPE Cray EX supercomputer with direct-to-chip liquid cooling. This still leaves heat generated by components such as memory modules, storage drives, and chipsets. So how is this heat removed?
This is where clever design comes in. The room temperature is carefully monitored, and once it exceeds a threshold, a mechanical ventilation system exhausts hot air and brings in fresh air from outside. The system closes once temperature drops by 2°C - until the threshold is breached again.
The Aspire 2A+ features newer H100 GPUs within traditional servers. To keep them cool, active rear door heat exchangers (RDHx) from KoolLogix, a Singapore company, are used. The made-in-Singapore RDHx uses two-phase liquid cooling without mechanical pumps. Hooked up to the building's chilled water, it maintains the data hall at a comfortable 26°C.
If you're looking for a living example of what IMDA is pushing for in its Green Data Centre Roadmap, the NSCC offers a tantalising glimpse of the energy-efficient data centres Singapore wants to encourage.
Read more about my visit here.
For sustainable water sourcing
The next day, I dropped by Bridge Data Centres' MY07 campus, on a trip brokered by Suntar. The MY07 campus will have six data centres, though they're still in varying stages of construction. But that's not why I was there.
I came for the water reclamation plant - the first in Malaysia that processes treated effluent from sewage treatment plants for data centre cooling. And yes, the water reclamation plant sits within the data centre campus boundary.
Once thing I love about site visits is how they often reveal nuances you can never get otherwise. The initial responses of technical experts, their subconscious uncertainties, the topics they're passionate about - all build a complete understanding that video calls can never achieve.
If I may summarise my impressions: water reclamation technology is remarkably mature for large-scale use. The core technology and treatment train are well-established. And reclaiming water for data centres is hardly the most demanding application, which essentially makes it a low-risk proposition.
I also corrected a misunderstanding of the technology. Various water treatment systems, from reverse osmosis (RO) pressure vessels to membrane bioreactors (MBR), can be cleaned to extend their lifespans, which are already measured in years. I believe this has positive implications on ROI, given the much longer timeframe.
Read about my experience here.
The quiet revolution
Standing in NSCC's data halls with no air-conditioning, then watching brownish treated wastewater transform into cooling-grade water in Johor, I saw the same truth twice: innovation doesn't always mean invention.
Singapore is pushing efficiency to its limits. Malaysia is reclaiming water at scale. Both are solving different problems with proven technologies - just applied strategically.
Content collaboration
I'm now opening up to do content collaborations with more tech firms. If you need event coverage, brand storytelling, or fresh perspectives that showcase your unique approach, fill in the form here and I'll get in touch.
Regards,
Paul Mah
