Singapore-based DayOne Data Centres marked a major milestone last week by breaking ground for its new 20MW hyperscale data centre in Jurong.
Dubbed SG1, the facility is designed to meet Southeast Asia’s surging demand for AI, cloud computing, and digital transformation. Spanning a gross floor area of 40,000 square metres, SG1 is DayOne’s flagship entry into its home market and a key node in its growing regional footprint.
SG1 will be the first data centre in Singapore to pilot on-site hydrogen-powered Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) generation, part of a pioneering proof-of-concept for green, hydrogen-based energy.
“By piloting SOFC, DayOne aims to accelerate the adoption of innovative green solutions, enhance diversification of energy sources for the data centre industry, and support the city-state’s sustainability goals,” said Jamie Khoo, chief executive of DayOne, at a media briefing following the groundbreaking ceremony on July 25.
At its core, the facility is designed to support high-density, air-cooled graphics processing units (GPUs) running on green energy. It will also feature hybrid air-liquid cooling systems to efficiently handle the intense heat generated by AI workloads.
Khoo added that SG1 is “purpose-built for high-density GPU workloads, with hybrid air-liquid cooling systems and green credentials that align with LEED and BCA Green Mark Platinum certifications”.
Ninety-five per cent of all DayOne’s facilities have been sold. Potential customers include global cloud providers, banks and enterprise customers.
While most of the compute will focus on general cloud workloads and AI inferencing, around 10 per cent of SG1 will be outfitted with high-end GPUs to support AI-intensive processing.
“AI is not a trend – it’s a new digital layer transforming every industry,” Khoo said. “Data centres are the scaffolding of that revolution.”
Asked about the small size of SG1 compared to other DayOne’s data centres in the region, Khoo said: “Singapore is an important hub for us because of its interconnectivity to the region and the world,” Khoo said.
SG1 will be interconnected with DayOne’s other data centres in Batam and Johor, forming a low-latency triangle in this region. “Customers will find it useful because there will be less latency, given the three countries’ close proximity,” she added.
To ensure energy sustainability, DayOne has signed a 10-year power purchase agreement with Sembcorp Power. The centre will run on 100 per cent renewable electricity, backed by bundled renewable energy certificates (RECs).
SG1 will also join the Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed (STDCT) Phase 2.0, in collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS). This research initiative will trial advanced cooling technologies specifically designed for Southeast Asia’s tropical climate.
Founded in 2022, DayOne has quickly grown its footprint with data centre operations in Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan. The company is now eyeing expansion into Europe, singling out Spain as its first stop.
It is one of four data centres given a licence to build under the Pilot Data Centre Call for Application by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).
SG1 directly supports Singapore’s Digital Connectivity Blueprint, which aims to add at least 300MW of data centre capacity in the near term to support AI development.
The project is also aligned with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 and is backed by the government under the nation’s pilot data centre programme.
