ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) has swapped out diesel fuel for biofuel to power its backup generators in Singapore.
The company this week announced the deployment of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to its data centers in Singapore, claiming to be the first operater in the country to do so.
HVO is a synthetic paraffinic diesel, made from vegetable oils or waste reprocessing with added hydrogen. It is a drop-in replacement fuel that can be used without modifications to existing engines. It can also be blended with diesel.
STT GDC is starting with a deployment of an initial 50,000 liters of HVO. On LinkedIn, the company added it is working with Neste as its supplier.
"At STT GDC, we are committed to implementing innovative solutions that not only enhance our operational efficiency but also contribute to a sustainable environment," said Lionel Yeo, CEO - Southeast Asia, STT GDC. "The deployment of HVO in our operations is a significant step towards achieving our sustainability goals and supporting Singapore’s emissions targets. 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.”
STT operates six data centers totaling more than 110MW across Singapore.
A number of companies are looking to diesel alternatives as a way to reduce their carbon footprint and green their backup operations. But while HVO fuel is being increasingly adopted by operators in Europe, its use in the US and elsewhere is still limited due to costs and supply issues.
HVO users in the US, Europe, and the Middle East include Vantage, Compass, Digital Realty, Global Switch, Amazon, Khazna, Kao, and others.
In South America, Digital Bridge-owned Scala conducted a successful test of HVO but said it wouldn’t adopt the fuel due to the “economic challenges” of sourcing it in Brazil.
