SLNG, Surbana Jurong, institutes to explore development of green modular data centre system

SINGAPORE LNG Corporation (SLNG), the National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC) Singapore, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Surbana Jurong are collaborating to explore the development of a proof-of-value for a green modular data centre system, with a potential to save 0.2 megawatt of power if successful.

The local organisations announced on Tuesday that they will explore the installation of about one petaflop of NSCC's supercomputer at the Singapore Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Terminal on Jurong Island, and the use of the stable and continuous supply of chilled seawater, discharged as part of the terminal's LNG regasification process, to reduce the heat generated.

"If successful, this prototype will demonstrate the value of industrial symbiosis, where one industry's waste can be converted into another industry's resource," said Tan Tin Wee, chief executive of NSCC.

The project, which would be the first of its kind in Singapore, also hopes to power the prototype system with renewable solar energy or green power backup using hydrogen fuel cells, instead of a diesel power generation set.

If feasible, the power that could be saved would be roughly equivalent to a carbon footprint reduction of 700 tonnes per year, or carbon sequestered by around 11,575 tree seedlings planted and grown over 10 years, the organisations said.

Rather than traditional data centre buildings, the proposed design will make use of prefabricated, standard-sized containers to house the supercomputer, which will speed up set up and installation.

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By providing the high-performance computing resources needed in various research fields, such as weather and climate monitoring and biomedical science, it will form part of the national research infrastructure that supports local research institutes, institutes of higher learning and companies.

NUS will contribute its expertise in liquid cooling technology, which can reduce power consumption by about 40 to 50 per cent, and is specifically designed for high performance computing servers that populate data centres, according to Lee Poh Seng, an associate professor from its Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Surbana Jurong will leverage its engineering design expertise in new and renewable energies, low carbon technologies, cold energy harnessing and smart grid for the project.

Tan Soo Koong, chief executive of SLNG, said: "We are also keen to do our part, especially where we can leverage our LNG expertise and terminal infrastructure, to help catalyse new possibilities for a more sustainable energy future."