Google has increased its investment in Singapore, raising its total commitment to USD 5 billion with the completion of its fourth data center in the country. This development marks a significant jump from the USD 850 million invested in 2022 when its third data center was launched. The new facility’s specifications were not disclosed, but it underscores Google’s expanding infrastructure in Singapore, where it has operated data centers since 2014, all located in Jurong West.
The rapid growth in data center capacity is driven by the rising demand for computing power to support advanced technological needs, such as AI and autonomous systems. To accommodate this growth sustainably, Singapore launched its Green Data Centre Roadmap, aiming to add 300MW of capacity with a focus on green energy. This initiative is part of broader efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, crucial given the data centers’ substantial contribution to the nation’s electricity consumption and sector emissions.
Google’s data centers in Singapore incorporate several sustainability features to enhance resource management. These include innovations in cooling systems, such as using recycled water and maintaining higher operating temperatures to reduce energy usage. Additionally, Google’s adoption of optical circuit switches for networking significantly cuts energy consumption, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainable growth in the data center sector amidst the increasing technological demands in the region.
(Sources: The Straits Times; Google)
