Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announced on September 29, 2026, that its subsidiary Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte. Ltd. has joined the Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed Phase 2.0 (STDCT 2.0) Consortium, an initiative led by the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Through its participation, Yokogawa will leverage its industrial automation heritage and leadership in autonomous operations to enhance operational efficiency, asset reliability, and energy optimization across next-generation data center environments.

Singapore Subsidiary Enters Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed Phase 2.0

The announcement was marked by an agreement signing ceremony attended by Mr. Joshua Kyaw Zwa and Mr. Kin Wah Chay of Yokogawa Engineering Asia, and Prof. Lee Poh Seng and Mr. Ian Loo of NUS.

Rising Demand Meets Tropical Constraints

Data center demand is growing worldwide, driven by the rapid adoption of generative AI and cloud services. At the same time, the industry faces significant challenges regarding energy consumption, operational resilience, and workforce constraints.

These challenges are even more pronounced in tropical regions such as Singapore, where hot and humid conditions place greater demands on cooling systems and energy efficiency, making sustainable data center innovation a crucial matter.

Singapore has identified the data center industry as one of its strategic growth sectors and is advancing plans to develop Jurong Island as a hub for next-generation data centers. The initiative is led by government agency for industrial infrastructure JTC Corporation and is projected to reach a capacity of up to 700 megawatts.

What STDCT 2.0 Aims to Achieve

STDCT 2.0 is a testbed initiative that brings together partners from academia, industry, and government to develop and evaluate advanced energy management and cooling technologies and establish a sustainable operating model suitable for AI data centers in a tropical climate.

Beyond technology deployment and validation, Yokogawa will also work with the consortium to explore a joint research agenda addressing emerging challenges where existing commercial solutions are insufficient to meet the demands of data center operators.

According to the company, the Sustainable Tropical Data Centre Testbed is a joint research initiative led by the National University of Singapore and hosted by its College of Design and Engineering, in collaboration with leading industry partners.

STDCT 2.0 focuses on developing energy-efficient data centre designs that can operate reliably in tropical climates. The programme serves as a live testbed to evaluate, validate, and deploy sustainable innovations that reduce energy and water consumption while supporting dense, AI-driven operations.

Optimizing the Data Center as an Integrated System

Professor Lee Poh Seng, Director of STDCT and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NUS's College of Design and Engineering, said that AI is fundamentally changing the design and operation of data centers.

"As rack densities rise and infrastructure becomes increasingly complex, improving individual components will no longer be enough, we need to optimize the data center as an integrated system spanning computing, power, cooling, controls and operations," Professor Lee said.

"STDCT 2.0 provides a real-world platform to bring these domains together and validate solutions under the demanding conditions of a tropical climate. Yokogawa's deep expertise in measurement, industrial automation and autonomous operations adds an important capability to this effort."

He added that through the partnership, the consortium hopes to develop and demonstrate new approaches that make AI data centers not only more energy- and resource-efficient, but also more intelligent, resilient and scalable for deployment in Singapore and other tropical markets.

Yokogawa's Vision for Industrial Autonomy in Digital Infrastructure

Kin Wah Chay, President and CEO of Yokogawa Engineering Asia, said the initiative reflects Yokogawa's vision of enabling industrial autonomy and extending the company's expertise into the rapidly evolving digital infrastructure sector.

"We are honored to join the STDCT 2.0 Consortium and work alongside leading partners to accelerate and co-innovate solutions for next-generation AI data centers," Chay said.

"Leveraging decades of experience in industrial automation and energy management, we aim to help drive smarter, more efficient, and sustainable data center operations in tropical regions."

Through its participation in STDCT 2.0, Yokogawa aims to strengthen its AI-powered technological capabilities and R&D expertise to develop comprehensive solutions that support Singapore's journey towards a sustainable digital economy and enhance the efficient and stable operation of AI data centers worldwide.

Company Background

Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food.

The company addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain through the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations.

Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 18,000-plus employees in a global network of 136 companies spanning 63 countries.

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