A recent report by RimbaWatch highlights a critical environmental concern in Malaysia: the 14 new data centres planned for the country are estimated to generate 9.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
This figure is equivalent to the yearly emissions of two million cars and is due to Malaysia’s reliance on a fossil fuel-powered electricity grid. RimbaWatch is urging the Malaysian government to limit approvals to data centres that commit to using 100% renewable energy for their operations.
The recommendations include:
- Urging the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) to develop a 1.5 degree-aligned sectoral-level carbon budget and decarbonisation pathway for data centres.
- Limit approvals to data centres that are committed to using renewable energy for 100% of their operations.
- Urging the Federal Government to commit to phase out all coal and gas-fired power plants.
The report also explores a futuristic solution of moving data centres into space. Off-Earth data centres would benefit from continuous solar energy and natural cooling from the vacuum of space, eliminating many terrestrial power and cooling challenges. This would allow for rapid deployment and expansion as demand increases.
However, the concept faces major obstacles, including the high cost of transport and the difficulty of maintenance.
