ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC), a data centre provider headquartered in Singapore, will be using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in its Singapore data centres, as a renewable fuel to replace conventional diesel fuel for backup generators.
Announcing its move last week, STT GDC joins a growing number of data centre operators that are turning to more sustainable fuel sources to reduce their impact on the environment.
As the first data centre operator in Singapore to use HVO for its backup generators across its facilities in Singapore, it is starting with 50,000 litres of the more sustainable fuel.
This is part of STT GDC’s broader global sustainability goal to be carbon-neutral by 2030. Its measures include incorporating advanced biofuels and other renewable energy sources into its energy mix.
Vegetable oils and waste fats are used to create HVO, a sustainable diesel substitute. It can be used as a drop-in fuel in the majority of current diesel engines without the need for modification.
Compared to conventional diesel, the backup power produced by HVO reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has less impact on air quality, making it a cleaner and more sustainable source of backup power generation.
STT GDC obtains its HVO from fuel provider Neste, which has provided proof of sustainability attesting to the HVO’s potential to cut greenhouse gas emissions during its lifespan by up to 90 per cent, compared to fossil diesel.
“The deployment of HVO in our operations is a significant step towards achieving our sustainability goals and supporting Singapore’s emissions targets,” said Lionel Yeo, chief executive officer for Southeast Asia for STT GDC.
“As our business grows, we want to continue to embed sustainability into every facet of our business, while at the same time, support the industry’s efforts to accelerate the use of renewable fuel sources,” he added.
While data centres around the world mainly use diesel-powered generators for backup, many are turning to cleaner fuel for its generators.
For example, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has started transitioning to HVO to power backup generators at its data centre sites in Europe.
Rival Microsoft has also announced plans to eliminate its dependence on diesel fuel by the year 2030. Currently, diesel fuel accounts for less than 1 per cent of the company’s overall emissions, and it plans to turn to low-carbon fuel sources, including hydrogen and energy storage.
