Data Centers at a Crossroads: Energy, Cooling, and Policy Challenges

1. Background

As data centre infrastructure expands rapidly across Southeast Asia, the related cooling demand has emerged as a critical challenge for the region's sustainability agenda. Data centres are among the most energy-intensive facilities globally, and cooling systems typically account for a significant share of their total power consumption. Without targeted intervention, this growth risks undermining the clean energy commitments of ASEAN Member States.

The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR), as the leading intergovernmental organisation dedicated to refrigeration, heat pumps, and cooling science, and the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), as the region's principal intergovernmental body on energy cooperation, are uniquely positioned to convene expertise on this issue. Together, we bring echnical rigour and regional policy relevance to advance sustainable cooling in the data centre sector.

2. Objectives

• Examine the energy and climate footprint of data centre cooling and its implications for regional decarbonisation goals.
• Present state-of-the-art cooling technologies and best practices applicable to data centres
• Foster knowledge exchange between IIR, ACE, and regional and international stakeholders on sustainable cooling pathways.
• Strengthen the IIR - ACE partnership as a platform for ongoing technical dialogue on cooling and energy efficiency in Southeast Asia.

3. Speakers

- Welcome and introduction 
- Presentation by ASEAN: Data centers in ASEAN energy consumption, environmental impact, and outlook

- Presentation by Expert Salem, Mohamed S.: Data centers cooling: A critical review of techniques, challenges, and energy saving solutions*
- Presentation by Analaura Ransdale: Policy and Technology Pathways for Sustainable Data Infrastructure

- Open Q&A