Singapore – Meta, the global technology conglomerate, has solidified its commitment to renewable energy in Singapore by signing a landmark 25-year energy supply agreement with Sembcorp, a leading Singaporean renewable energy developer. The deal, executed through Meta's subsidiary Malkoha Pte, will see Sembcorp construct, own, and operate a significant 150MW floating solar project.
Sembcorp Solar Singapore, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp, will undertake the development of this innovative project. Once operational, the floating solar farm will directly supply renewable energy to power Meta's data center operations located in Singapore.
The ambitious project is slated for construction on the Kranji Reservoir, situated in the northern part of Singapore. Pending the necessary approvals from local authorities, construction is anticipated to commence in the first half of 2027. This agreement marks a significant step as one of the early initiatives tied to a large-scale floating solar farm, an emerging technology involving the deployment of solar panels on bodies of water like reservoirs, where they are anchored for stability.
Meta first established its presence in the Singaporean market in 2018 with the groundbreaking of its state-of-the-art Tanjong Kling data center. The sprawling 170,000 sqm facility became operational in 2022. Prior to this agreement, Meta had already demonstrated its commitment to renewable energy in Singapore through a 5MW floating solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and a 100MW distributed rooftop solar deal, both secured with Sunseap.
Singapore has emerged as a key hub for major data center operators, including industry giants such as Equinix, Global Switch, Telehouse, Digital Realty, and Iron Mountain. Consequently, the adoption of renewable energy supply agreements has become an increasingly popular strategy for these operators to decarbonize their energy consumption.
This trend is further highlighted by recent developments in the sector. Just last week, Digital Realty announced achieving 100 percent renewable energy coverage for its Singaporean operations following an offtake agreement with Tuas Power. Earlier, Equinix also inked a long-term PPA with Sembcorp for 58.5MW of solar power in Singapore.
Sembcorp, headquartered in Singapore, boasts a substantial energy portfolio of 25.1GW, with a significant 17GW comprising gross renewable capacity spread across 11 countries. Their latest agreement with Meta further strengthens their position in the renewable energy landscape, adding to their existing long-term PPAs with major players like Equinix and Singtel in Singapore. This floating solar project represents a significant stride towards sustainable energy solutions for data center operations in the region.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]