The Dawn of Sustainable Data Centres in Tropical Climates
The National University of Singapore (NUS) has long been at the forefront of innovative research addressing real-world challenges, particularly in sustainability and technology. The Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed (STDCT), initiated by NUS's College of Design and Engineering (CDE), represents a pioneering effort to develop energy-efficient solutions for data centres operating in hot, humid environments like Singapore. Launched in November 2023, Phase 1 of the STDCT established the world's first dedicated testbed for tropical climate data centre technologies, attracting over S$30 million in funding and partnerships from industry leaders.
Data centres, the backbone of the digital economy, consume vast amounts of energy, with cooling accounting for up to 40% of that usage. In tropical regions, where ambient temperatures often exceed 30°C and humidity levels hover around 80%, traditional air-cooling systems struggle, leading to higher Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) ratios— a key metric measuring energy efficiency, where lower values indicate better performance. The STDCT Phase 1 focused on five research projects, three of which targeted advanced cooling innovations, such as hybrid air-liquid systems aiming for a PUE below 1.2. These efforts demonstrated potential energy savings of up to 40%, setting the stage for scalable commercialization.
Building on this success, the announcement of STDCT 2.0 marks a significant escalation. This multi-megawatt pilot facility will be constructed on Jurong Island, Singapore's premier industrial hub undergoing a green transformation. The move aligns with national goals to balance explosive data centre growth—driven by artificial intelligence (AI)—with stringent sustainability mandates.
🔧 STDCT 2.0: Scaling Up on Jurong Island
STDCT 2.0, slated to commence operations in 2026, transforms the compact campus-based prototype into a full-scale living laboratory. Located within a 20-hectare low-carbon data centre park planned by JTC Corporation (JTC) and the Economic Development Board (EDB), the facility could support up to 700 megawatts (MW) of capacity—enough to boost Singapore's total data centre supply by around 50%. In November 2025, NUS and JTC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to anchor this initiative, integrating it with hydrogen-ready power plants, sustainable fuels, and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) projects.
The testbed will simulate real-world operations with actual information technology (IT) loads, reconfigurable power and cooling infrastructure, and bi-directional grid interactions. Researchers and operators can trial hardware, algorithms, and energy sources in a de-risked environment, accelerating adoption. A companion microgrid will enable testing of flexible demand response, where data centres act as grid stabilizers using battery storage during peak times.
This strategic location fosters industrial symbiosis: waste heat from data centres can be recovered for nearby petrochemical processes, turning liabilities into assets. Professor Lee Poh Seng, Head of Mechanical Engineering at NUS CDE and STDCT Programme Director, emphasizes, "STDCT 2.0 will go beyond efficiency standards by validating AI-ready, low-carbon tropical data centre solutions in real operating conditions."
Schneider Electric Steps in as Anchor Partner
Schneider Electric, a global leader in energy management and automation, has emerged as the first anchor sponsor for STDCT 2.0. Building on their S$1.2 million investment in Phase 1—where they supplied uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), fan walls, busways, and EcoStruxure Building Operations for monitoring—the company will now provide advanced cooling units and prefabricated data hall solutions tailored for high-density AI infrastructure.
The partnership extends to joint research and development (R&D), co-hosted events for NUS students and staff, and knowledge dissemination via conferences. Yoon Young Kim, Cluster President for Singapore and Brunei at Schneider Electric, notes, "Our collaboration with NUS shows how industry and academia can create real-world impact and support Singapore's ambition to grow its digital economy efficiently and sustainably."
This alliance leverages Schneider's expertise in prefabricated modular data centres, which reduce deployment time by up to 50% and enhance scalability. For aspiring engineers, such collaborations open doors to internships and specialized training—explore opportunities at higher-ed-jobs.
Overcoming Tropical Challenges for Next-Gen Data Centres
Singapore's tropical climate amplifies data centre cooling demands, where high humidity and temperatures limit air-based systems. Traditional cooling reaches limits at rack densities beyond 20-30 kW, yet AI accelerators like Nvidia's GPUs now demand over 200 kW per rack, with projections hitting 600 kW in 2026 and 1-4 MW soon after. This surge correlates with Singapore's AI data centre market, valued at USD 0.89 billion in 2026 and growing at 10.41% CAGR.
STDCT addresses this through a whole-systems approach:
- Thermal Management: Liquid cooling variants like direct-to-chip, immersion, and two-phase refrigerants for high-temperature waste heat recovery.
- Power Architecture: 800V DC distribution to cut losses and copper usage.
- Digital Twins: AI-driven simulations for predictive control.
These innovations target PUE below 1.25, mandated by IMDA's Data Centre Call for Application 2 (DC-CFA2), requiring 50% green energy sourcing.
AI-Ready Infrastructure: Powering the Future
AI workloads redefine data centres, necessitating ultra-high densities and resiliency. STDCT 2.0 pilots hydrogen-compatible backups, low-carbon fuels, and grid-supportive operations. By linking to Jurong Island's decarbonization ecosystem, it enables waste-to-resource conversion, enhancing energy resiliency.
For instance, excess heat (up to 90°C from advanced cooling) can preheat industrial processes, while batteries enable peak shaving. This positions Singapore as a global AI hub amid moratoriums elsewhere due to power constraints.
Jurong Island's Green Reinvention
Once Singapore's petrochemical heart, Jurong Island now pivots to new energies. With 300 hectares for green projects and 20 hectares for the data centre park, initiatives like biomethane pilots complement STDCT 2.0. JTC's vision integrates data centres with CCUS and hydrogen production, creating a symbiotic industrial park.
DPM Gan Kim Yong highlighted at the island's 25th anniversary, “These efforts will create a comprehensive ecosystem... enabling Singapore to contribute meaningfully to global decarbonisation.” External details: JTC on green testbed.
NUS Driving Higher Education and Talent Pipeline
As a Higher Education News highlight, NUS's leadership underscores universities' role in national innovation. STDCT 2.0 includes specialized courses, training, and internships in AI cooling, microgrids, and sustainable power—preparing graduates for booming sectors.
- Hands-on experience with real IT loads and modular systems.
- Joint R&D with Schneider fosters industry-academia bridges.
- Career advice for roles in sustainable tech via higher-ed-career-advice.
This aligns with Singapore's push for skilled workforce amid digital growth. Check faculty ratings at rate-my-professor.
Impacts and Challenges Ahead
The project promises reduced emissions, lower costs, and grid stability, but challenges like technology integration and scalability persist. Multi-perspective views from industry (Schneider), government (JTC/IMDA), and academia (NUS) ensure balanced progress. For Singapore, it sustains DC expansion under green mandates.
Photo by Marian Florinel Condruz on Unsplash
Looking Forward: A Blueprint for Global Sustainability
STDCT 2.0 positions Singapore—and NUS—as leaders in sustainable tropical data centres, influencing APAC and beyond. Future phases may expand to regional collaborations, solidifying AI infrastructure resilience. For professionals, opportunities abound in university-jobs, higher-ed-jobs, and higher-ed-career-advice. Explore Singapore roles at /sg.
