Asia-Pacific data centres urged to balance growth & green energy

The Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association has released a white paper addressing the challenge of balancing digital growth with energy sustainability across the Asia-Pacific region.

Titled Data Centres and Energy Sustainability: A Regional Perspective on Best Practises and Policy Frameworks, the report explores how countries in the region can simultaneously accommodate rapid digital expansion and progress towards greener energy targets. It is aimed at policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders involved in the data centre industry and energy policy development.

Key challenges

The white paper identifies the surging demand for digital infrastructure, driven by data centres, as a significant challenge in ensuring sustainable energy usage in the region. It recognises the need to expand digital services while also managing the associated energy requirements in a way that is aligned with environmental targets.

In highlighting this situation, the report states that the combination of rapid digitalisation and efforts to reach net zero emissions will require a coordinated, region-wide approach to new policy frameworks and best practices.

Policy recommendations

The white paper outlines several policy recommendations, focusing on three priority areas. The first is the implementation of policies that support energy sustainability. This includes accelerating the push to increase the availability of clean and renewable energy, building robust and flexible grid infrastructure, stepping up targeted policy incentives for renewable energy use by data centres, and expanding access to renewable energy options such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

The second area is the promotion of a "predictable, collaborative and consultative approach to energy efficiency standards", encouraging regulators and stakeholders to align energy efficiency guidelines across Asia-Pacific markets and ensure these are grounded in practical realities. The paper highlights the need for regulatory interoperability so that operators can achieve consistent standards across jurisdictions.

The third priority is enabling partnerships that drive energy innovation. The APDCA calls for enhanced public-private partnerships to accelerate research and development as well as training efforts focused on data centre energy efficiency and new technologies.

Industry perspective

Jeremy Deutsch, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association, commented on the importance of the report.

"Balancing energy sustainability with the surging demand for digital infrastructure is one of Asia Pacific's defining challenges. This paper spotlights best practices to enhance energy sustainability across the data centre lifecycle and outlines actionable policy recommendations to ensure AI-driven growth is delivered sustainability. The opportunity is clear - with the right policy frameworks, Asia-Pacific governments can ensure that digital transformation advances hand in hand with net zero ambitions." said Jeremy Deutsch, Chair of the APDCA. 

The association believes that these coordinated steps are necessary to assure both continued technological progress and attainment of environmental goals within the region.

Focus on collaboration

The report repeatedly stresses the need for governments, industry stakeholders and wider participants to work together collaboratively, both across national boundaries and within their respective markets. Regulatory alignment and ongoing consultation are seen as essential to successful implementation.

The APDCA suggests that incentivising the use of renewable energy by data centres, as well as providing more options for companies to secure renewable power, will play a major role in transitioning the digital sector towards sustainability. In addition, support for R&D and workforce training is identified as a way to ensure the region remains at the forefront of energy-efficient practices in data centre construction and operation.

Outlook

The full white paper is now available from the Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association. It comes at a time when many governments in the region are considering how best to support both digital economic growth and energy sustainability in line with broader net zero objectives.