The future of data centres in Singapore
New SS 715:2025 compliance standard
Dr Stu Redshaw is co-founder and Chief Technology Innovation Officer for data centre optimisation experts EkkoSense. Ahead of attendance at the Datacentre World Asia show in Singapore 8-9th October, Stu shares his views on data centre energy efficiency in South East Asia and the implication of the new SS 715:2025 standard in specific relation to the future of data centres in Singapore.
Given how fundamental data centres are as the platform for Singapore’s digital economy, it’s significant that the country’s Government remains strongly committed to advancing sustainable green data centre growth.
This has just been re-enforced with the introduction of the new SS 715:2025: Energy Efficiency of Data Centre IT Equipment standard last month. The new standard introduced by IMDA (InfoComm Media Development Authority) builds on the work of Singapore’s initial Green DC Roadmap, the refreshed 2024 Green Mark for Data Centres, as well as the Energy Efficiency Grant that’s aimed at helping organisations accelerate upgrades to more energy efficient IT equipment.
Why SS 715:2025 matters to the future of the Singapore data centre industry
SS 715:2025 makes Singapore one of the first countries in the world to introduce data centre standards for IT energy efficiency in the tropics. By focusing on the selection and operation of IT equipment for energy efficiency and at higher temperatures, the SS 715:2025: Energy Efficiency of Data Centre IT Equipment standard aims to save energy consumption of data centre IT equipment by at least 30%
In introducing the standard, IMDA also recognises that the overall energy consumed by data centre IT equipment will almost certainly increase further. The growing adoption of AI and the requirement for high-density AI compute engines no doubt adding to this momentum.
Delivering against energy efficiency baselines and adopting best practices in IT energy management will be a key factor in helping organisations successfully balance sustainability and IT effectiveness
GovTech Singapore has already mandated that IT equipment suppliers meet the standard’s energy efficiency requirements, seeing the new SS 715:2025 standard as a key step in its efforts to reduce the public sector carbon footprint.
Singapore data centre industry focus on energy-efficient best practices
The good news is that these ambitious energy saving targets are achievable. Organisations can combine the most efficient IT equipment with the latest AI-powered 3D visualisation and analytics software. However, it’s difficult to unlock the performance improvements needed to secure energy savings unless you have real-time data. You need to know exactly what’s happening in your data centre in real-time.
This lack of real-time insight into actual data centre cooling , power and capacity performance means that operations teams often over-cool. The only reliable way to troubleshoot and optimise data centre performance is to gather massive amounts of data from right across the facility – with no sampling.
That’s where our distinctive EkkoSoft Critical AI-powered optimisation software can help. It brings an entirely new class of accuracy and granularity to data centre operations.
Some customers are able to reduce data centre cooling energy costs by up to 30%. All due thanks to more efficient thermal operations. This obviously helps in terms of addressing compliance with the SS 715:2025 standard. In addition it also delivers quantifiable benefits – reduced carbon footprint and freeing critical cooling resources for new workloads such as AI.
How to deliver SS 715:2025 compliance
EkkoSense can help you to deliver against SS 715:2025 compliance requirements. Lets break this down into three categories.
Accelerating Energy Efficiency at Facility Level:
- PUE Optimization: EkkoSense enables real-time tracking and reduction of Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). This helps data centres to meet the roadmap’s target of ≤1.3 at 100% IT load.
- Cooling Efficiency: Through granular sensor data and AI-driven analytics, EkkoSense identifies over-cooled zones and airflow inefficiencies. This supports Tropical DC standards and enabling safe increases in operating temperature (e.g., 1–2°C gains can yield 2–5% cooling energy savings).
- Smart Energy Optimisation Tools: The EkkoSoft Critical platform acts as a digital twin. Dynamically adjusting cooling setpoints and airflow reduces energy waste—similar to the DCVerse case study cited in the roadmap.
Supporting Diverse Cooling Solutions:
- High-Density Rack Management: EkkoSense helps tailor cooling strategies for AI and HPC workloads, which often exceed 20kW/rack. It supports hybrid cooling zones and can integrate with liquid cooling systems.
- Predictive Maintenance: By continuously monitoring M&E systems, EkkoSense flags inefficiencies and supports proactive upgrades. This aligns with the roadmap’s call for facility refurbishments.
Enabling Carbon and Water Efficiency:
- Carbon Monitoring: EKkoSense can track energy consumption and correlate it with carbon intensity, supporting Scope 2 emissions reporting and carbon-efficient operations. Integrated ESG Reporting eliminates the need for spreadsheets by taking advantage of real-time data integration and automated reporting
- Water Efficiency Support: While not a water management tool per se, EkkoSense’s cooling optimisation indirectly reduces water usage in cooling towers by minimising unnecessary cooling demand.
EkkoSense is also able to work closely with organisations to address key Green Mark for Data Centres requirements. In particula the key Energy Efficiency, Carbon, Intelligence and Maintenance areas. The EkkoSoft Critical digital twin supports data centres in achieving 59 out of the total 66 Green Mark points available.
IMDA’s new SS 715:2025 standard confirms Singapore’s determination to lead as data centre sustainability becomes a baseline requirement.
Get in touch to meet with Stu Redshaw at Datacentre World Asia show on stand L65 (with local partner Advancedata. Or read Patricia Alvina’s article. ‘Challenges in Managing Tropical Data Centres: A guide to the Singapore Green Mark Certification and other Singapore data centre standards’
Key Takeaways
- The new SS 715:2025 standard advances Singapore’s commitment to sustainable data centre growth and energy efficiency.
- This standard aims for at least a 30% energy consumption reduction in data centre IT equipment, focusing on higher temperature operations.
- EkkoSense offers solutions to help data centres achieve SS 715:2025 compliance, including PUE optimisation and real-time data analysis.
- With AI and advanced analytics, organisations can significantly enhance energy efficiency and lower their carbon footprint.
- SS 715:2025 positions the Singapore data centre industry as a leader in sustainable data centre practices, crucial for the future of data centres in Singapore.
