Malaysia, November 3, 2023 - The construction of the next-generation data centres is becoming increasingly complex. The demand for computing power is growing exponentially due to the integration of technologies in data centres like the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other data-intensive technologies. With data centres being increasingly targeted by cyberattacks, companies now emphasise adopting sophisticated security measures, especially by the financial technology companies providing services, including digital banking. Balancing these prerequisites, data centre operators are now also looking for ways to reduce the production of waste materials that can leach into the environment and cause pollution, as well as to comply with regulations.
The Knight Frank’s Data Centre Research Report Malaysia revealed that among the five Southeast Asian countries under review, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, Malaysia emerges as the top choice for data centre investments. This recognition remains steadfast despite the considerable attention these markets have attracted due to their large populations and untapped potential. Malaysia led the way with a take-up of 113 MW in 2022, and this growth can be attributed to the expansion of Malaysia’s data centre in Johor, while Kuala Lumpur consistently reported double-digit figures in the past three years. Malaysia’s position as the most desired destination for data centre investment in the five examined Southeast Asia countries has been cemented by the nation’s robust GDP growth of 8.7% and the recent announcement of the new cloud regions¹. Over the past decade, Malaysia has become one of the most dynamic data centre markets in the Asia-Pacific region, driven by a surge in interest in cloud computing, government support, and a moratorium on new data centres in Singapore.
At the Data Centre World Asia 2023 this year, CHINT demonstrated to their customers the capabilities of the company’s data centre solutions that are designed to meet the power distribution needs of hyperscale data centres. One of these solutions included the EnergiX-P40, a Power Distribution Unit (PDU) certified under the IEC-61439 type test and IEC60068 seismic test. With up to 144 outgoing circuits, the circuit breakers in the EnergiX-P40 can be replaced without the need to power down the entire PDU. This is important for data centres and other critical infrastructures where downtime is unacceptable, even during maintenance or repair. This can also help to improve the availability and uptime of data centres and other critical applications. As a result of this, it is anticipated that data centre providers will start to build a greater presence in Malaysia over the next several years. Cyberjaya remains Malaysia's main hub for data centres, but demand is growing in other locations, such as Bukit Jalil and Petaling Jaya. These locations offer a power grid with fewer limitations and are more geographically diverse, which provides better redundancy for data centre clients who want to distribute their computing loads across multiple sites. As more global tech companies enter Malaysia, the country's total data centre capacity will increase. With an abundant land supply and reliable electricity infrastructure, Malaysia will be a key market under the radar for data centre development.
Substations are another essential part of data centre solutions as they lower the electricity voltage from the grid and provide backup power in case of an outage. CHINT's prefabricated substations are designed and built in a controlled factory environment and can also include lithium battery systems. They are then shipped to the data centre site for onsite easy integration with fire protection systems. This reduces material waste and eliminates the need for on-site custom cuts and changes.
With over 35 years of global experience and a team of top engineers and research scientists spanning over 140+ countries and regions, CHINT is at the forefront of driving change in the data centre industry.
"Data centres are critical infrastructure, and data centre owners must address the complexity of data centre construction at the onset of each project if they want to build them to the highest standards, and with government regulations and scalability in mind. The construction will require careful planning and design. Engineers working on the project must have the expertise to consider all the factors involved, such as ways to optimize the design of the data centre and select the most cost-effective materials with high quality and construction methods. In addition, the use of prefabricated substations can also significantly reduce the time it takes to construct a data centre, improve the quality of construction, and are definitely more cost-effective than traditional construction methods, especially for hyperscale data centres." said Er. Lim Say Leong, IEC Ambassador (2018 – 2021) and Technical Director of Asia Pacific, CHINT Global and Sunlight Electrical.
Er. Lim also made a presentation at the event on the interlinked nature of systems in the data centre infrastructure and ways in which data centres can be built to achieve the strategic outcomes of speed and with high performance of the networks during the construction and operational phases.
In addition to supplying the existing range of solutions to data centre operators, CHINT will also continuously reimagine innovations with industry stakeholders to push the limits for the construction of data centres in the region.
At the same event, Benjamin Kho, Regional Applications Marketing Manager of Asia Pacific, CHINT Global, Ngo Yun Fun, ENGIE SEA Engineering Manager, and Dr. Yong Rui Yuan from the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association of Singapore discussed the potential to transform the energy sector through the use of hydrogen and renewables, and against the backdrop of economic viability, environment benefits, and societal implications of harnessing renewables – fostering enthusiasm for the shift towards a low-carbon world.
CHINT’s regional customers and other industry stakeholders from the Data World Centre Asia 2023 also visited CHINT’s state-of-the-art Innovation Lab in the company’s APAC headquarters in Singapore to discuss solutions to meet their unique business needs and sustainability goals.
Concurrently, CHINT hosted the 10th CHINT International Marketing Forum (CIMF) in Shanghai from 10 to 14 October 2023 to analyze the latest smart energy trends and CHINT’s Carbon-Neutral journey. Themed "Empower a Boundless Energy World," the event gathered industry experts, including Nan Cunhui, Chairman of CHINT Group; Lily Zhang, President of CHINT Global; Prabhu Ramkumar, Vice President, Head of Sustainability of TÜV SÜD North Asia; Mattie Bekink, China Director of Economist Intelligence Corporate Network; Kenneth Jarrett, Senior Advisor of Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG). Paul Lee, Regional Applications Marketing Manager of Asia Pacific, CHINT Global, also conducted a live demonstration of the EnergiX-P40 at the Data World Centre Asia 2023 to participants of the CIMF.
As CHINT continues to increase their footprint in APAC through their rapid business expansion plans, the company already has a strong pipeline of projects where they will partner with more individuals, businesses and governments to reimagine smart energy solutions while reshaping their strategy in the smart energy sector so as to meet new and more complex demands.
Reference:
¹ Knight Frank, Malaysia Data Centre Research Report (April, 2023)
This article is provided by SLPR
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
