Singapore Awards 200 MW Data Centre Capacity to Four Operators on Jurong Island

Capacity Allocation and Site Selection

Singapore's government allocated 200 megawatts of new data centre capacity to four operators in its second Call For Application tender, according to the Economic Development Board and Infocomm Media Development Authority. Digital Realty, Equinix, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, and Keppel Data Centres each received provisional allocations of 50 MW.

All four facilities will be located on Jurong Island, where JTC is developing a low-carbon data centre park designed to leverage synergies within the island's existing industrial ecosystem. The site selection marks a strategic shift toward consolidating data infrastructure in locations with established energy and utilities networks.

The DC-CFA 2 exercise drew more than 20 applications from local and international operators following its launch in December 2025. All four selected operators already maintain substantial Singapore presences, with Digital Realty operating three facilities, Equinix five, STT GDC six centres totaling over 110 MW of IT load, and Keppel eight.

Sustainability Requirements and Technology Mandates

The awarded operators committed to exceeding minimum sustainability thresholds set by regulators. More than half of their data centre capacity must be powered by green energy sources, according to EDB and IMDA.

Facilities will deploy advanced cooling technologies including liquid cooling systems and use 100 per cent energy-efficient IT equipment to achieve best-in-class energy performance. These requirements reflect Singapore's approach to balancing digital infrastructure growth with its carbon reduction targets.

Keppel plans to invest over S$1 billion in its AI-ready data centre, funded through its Keppel Data Centre Fund III and co-investors. The company will tap existing energy assets on Jurong Island, including 1,900 MW of generation capacity from its Keppel Merlimau Cogen Plant and Keppel Sakra Cogen Plant.

Regional Context and Future Pipeline

Singapore's data centre moratorium, implemented in 2019 to manage power grid strain and carbon emissions, has made capacity allocations highly competitive. The city-state serves as a critical digital hub for Southeast Asia, with hyperscalers and enterprise clients requiring local infrastructure for latency-sensitive applications and data sovereignty compliance.

The first DC-CFA round in July 2023 awarded 80 MW to Equinix, GDS, Microsoft, and an AirTrunk-ByteDance consortium. EDB and IMDA will assess the need for a third round within 18 to 24 months, signaling a measured approach to capacity expansion.

Bruno Lopez, president and group CEO of STT GDC, said the investment would strengthen Singapore's digital ecosystem and international connectivity while delivering economic value beyond computing capacity. Digital Realty emphasized its focus on responsible AI adoption and partnerships with local talent.

Yee May Leong, managing director of Equinix Singapore, noted the allocation would accelerate the city-state's positioning as a digital and AI hub for ASEAN. Keppel highlighted its integrated capabilities across data centres, power, cooling, and low-carbon solutions as differentiators in the tender process.

The Jurong Island cluster approach allows operators to share low-carbon infrastructure and utilities, potentially reducing per-facility capital expenditure while meeting stricter environmental standards. This model may inform future capacity releases as Singapore navigates the tension between digital economy ambitions and climate commitments.