Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Attributed to Jason Low, Regional Head of APAC, Iceotope

Malaysia is swiftly emerging as a data centre powerhouse in Southeast Asia, driven by the growing demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). Tech giants such as Google, Nvidia, and Microsoft are investing billions of dollars to establish and expand data centres in the region. Last year, the Minister of Trade announced that data centre-related investments have totalled MYR 76B (USD 16B).

Several factors contribute to Malaysia’s attractiveness in the global data centre market: proactive investor facilitation, cost-efficiency, a large landbank and seamless connectivity to Asia and beyond through 22 submarine cable networks and 14 landing stations.

Jason Low, Regional Head of APAC, Iceotope

Growing pains

Data centres are important enablers of the digital economy, processing vast amounts of data and supporting global business operations. However, as the number of data centres grows, so does the challenge of managing the immense heat they generate. In tropical Malaysia, which continues to battle a scorching heat wave, the pressure to keep this multi-billion dollar hub cool is rising. 

Data centres consume enormous amounts of energy and other natural resources, and in the rapidly developing region, the demand is swelling. Potential electricity demand from data centres in Malaysia is estimated to hit over 5,000 megawatts by 2035, according to the national electricity company Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

Earlier this year, Malaysia’s main water regulator, the National Water Services Commission, cautioned that the country could face widespread water shortages in the next five years due to climate change, wastage and ageing infrastructure. Experts also noted similar sentiments, noting that existing and planned data centres are also concentrated in areas like the Klang Valley and Johor which have grappled with water supply shortages for decades.

Meeting Malaysia’s sustainability goals

Precision Liquid Cooling offers cutting-edge technology for cooling high-performance computing systems, such as servers and data centres. It offers exceptional thermal stability through the precise delivery of dielectric fluid across the entire IT stack. It removes nearly 100% of the heat generated and reduces energy use by up to 40% and water consumption by up to 100%. There are no performance-throttling hotspots, no front-to-back air cooling, no bottom-to-top immersion constraints, and no physical space wasted on unnecessary air cooling infrastructure.

Precision Liquid Cooling offers exceptional sustainability by minimising water consumption and significantly reducing carbon emissions. This approach recaptures nearly 100% of the heat generated, allowing for efficient reuse and supporting green data centre initiatives. By effectively capturing nearly 100% of the heat produced by servers, these solutions also minimise water usage due to reduced mechanical cooling requirements. In doing so, data centres can also see a reduction in water costs, particularly notable as Malaysia increased its water tariff rates for the first time in decades earlier this year. 

Precision Liquid Cooling is designed to integrate seamlessly into current data centre infrastructure, making it a versatile solution for modern data centres. It also reduces stress on chassis components, reducing component failures by 30% and extending server lifecycles. The ability to hot swap servers both within data centres and remote locations streamlines service calls, eliminating exposure to inclement environmental elements and substantially reducing the risks associated with service operations.

As Malaysia gears up for the immense opportunities that come with these multi-billion dollar investments, it will also have to face various sustainability challenges and anticipated regulatory pressures to reduce carbon footprints. In an era where environmental sustainability and operational efficiency are critical, embracing Precision Liquid Cooling can help Malaysia’s data centres thrive while mitigating their environmental impact. As Malaysia sets its sights on Net Zero 2050 and its continued ambitions towards becoming a self-sufficient industrialised nation, the onus is on corporations, regulatory bodies and technology solution providers alike to keep them on track. 

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