EDB and IMDA launch pilot data centre - Call for Application (DC-CFA) to support sustainable growth of DCs

EDB and IMDA have launched a pilot Data Centre (DC) - Call for Application Exercise (DC-CFA) that will facilitate the building of new DC capacity and allow for the calibrated and sustainable growth of DCs in Singapore.

Data Centres (DCs) are important enablers of the digital economy. As the usage of digital applications and services increases, the demand for data storage and processing for businesses and consumers has also risen globally. However, DCs are also intensive users of resources like land, water, and energy, contributing to our carbon footprint.

Going forward, Singapore will need to manage the growth of DC capacity in a sustainable manner consistent with our climate change commitments. The Government informed the industry of a temporary pause in the growth of DCs in 2019 and embarked on a review. Since then, EDB and IMDA have had extensive consultations with the DC sector, their industrial customers and sustainability solutions providers to determine the parameters for the installation of new DC capacity.

EDB and IMDA will partner with the industry to facilitate DCs that:

1. Bring in state of the art technologies and best practices for sustainability, particularly in the areas of energy efficiency and decarbonisation;
2. Strengthen Singapore’s international connectivity and position as a regional hub; and
3. Make a significant contribution to Singapore’s broader economic objectives.

Many DCs today are already taking active steps to be more energy efficient and sustainable. The Pilot Call for Application (CFA) exercise by EDB and IMDA seeks to leverage on the expertise and capabilities of the industry to further push the technology boundaries in these areas, and help level up the baseline for the sector, while providing new capacity for DC growth to support our digital economy.

This first DC-CFA exercise has been structured as a pilot, with flexibility for the industry to provide innovative proposals that can best meet our desired outcomes. More details can be found in Annex A.

EDB and IMDA will continue to partner with the industry for greener DCs to fulfil our environmental obligations under the 2015 Paris Agreement while supporting the needs of our Digital Economy. We look forward to the industry’s participation in the pilot DC-CFA exercise.