Singapore has launched a new standard “SS 715:2025: Energy Efficiency of Data Centre IT Equipment” (“SS 715:2025“), which seeks to support data centre operators and users to deploy energy efficient information technology (“IT“) equipment. As one of the first data centre standards for IT energy efficiency in the tropics, SS 715:2025 aims to save energy consumption of IT equipment in data centres by at least 30% through selecting and optimising the operation of IT equipment for energy efficiency and at higher temperatures.
SS 715:2025 guides users on:
- Minimum energy efficiency performance level of IT equipment: SS 715:2025 defines the minimum level of energy efficiency performance that IT equipment, such as server, storage and network equipment used in data centres, should meet. This allows data centre users to select IT equipment that meet or exceed international energy efficiency baselines.
- Best practices and guidelines: SS 715:2025 provides best practices and guidelines on the selection, deployment and operation of IT equipment to further reap energy savings. These include: (i) replacing older IT equipment with fewer but newer IT equipment; and (ii) regular monitoring of IT equipment utilisation rates.
- Support for higher temperature data centre operations: SS 715:2025 sets out that IT equipment in data centres should be able to operate safely at temperatures of up to 35°C. This helps data centre operators to operate cooling systems at higher temperatures in line with the Tropical Data Centre standard (SS697:2023) that Singapore launched in 2023.
Why is SS 715:2025 important?
- It aligns minimum energy efficiency performances with those used by international certifications like US Energy Star and EU Ecodesign.
- The use of IT equipment in Singapore normally accounts for around 60% of data centres’ energy consumption, which is expected to increase exponentially with the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI). The standard thus aims to increase compute workload while maintaining a similar or lesser energy intake, supporting data centres in adopting best practices in IT energy management while meeting international standards.
- SS 715:2025 is a part of Singapore’s greater Green Data Centre Roadmap, which charts the sustainable and continued growth of data centres while attempting to support Singapore’s ambitions to grow the digital economy, overall ensuring Singapore’s long-term sustainability goals are met.
Data centre end-users may wish to utilise the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (“IMDA“) Efficiency Grant for the data centre sector to support the upgrade of their IT equipment to meet the baselines set out in the new SS 715:2025. The support cap per company is currently S$30,000, supporting up to 70% of equipment costs for small and medium enterprises in Singapore. The grant helps in the co-funding of the purchase of pre-approved energy-efficient IT equipment.
Click on the following links for more information:
- IMDA Press Release titled “Singapore IT Energy Efficiency Standard for Data Centres Launched” (available on the IMDA website at imda.gov.sg)
- SS 715:2025: Energy Efficiency of Data Centre IT Equipment (available for purchase on the Singapore Standards website at singaporestandardseshop.sg)
Disclaimer
Rajah & Tann Asia is a network of member firms with local legal practices in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Our Asian network also includes our regional office in China as well as regional desks focused on Brunei, Japan and South Asia. Member firms are independently constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local requirements.
The contents of this publication are owned by Rajah & Tann Asia together with each of its member firms and are subject to all relevant protection (including but not limited to copyright protection) under the laws of each of the countries where the member firm operates and, through international treaties, other countries. No part of this publication may be reproduced, licensed, sold, published, transmitted, modified, adapted, publicly displayed, broadcast (including storage in any medium by electronic means whether or not transiently for any purpose save as permitted herein) without the prior written permission of Rajah & Tann Asia or its respective member firms.
Please note also that whilst the information in this publication is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as legal advice or a substitute for specific professional advice for any particular course of action as such information may not suit your specific business and operational requirements. You should seek legal advice for your specific situation. In addition, the information in this publication does not create any relationship, whether legally binding or otherwise. Rajah & Tann Asia and its member firms do not accept, and fully disclaim, responsibility for any loss or damage which may result from accessing or relying on the information in this publication.
