Singapore has commissioned its largest industrial district cooling system, developed, owned and operated by a joint venture between SP Group and Daikin Singapore. The system is now fully operational at a high-volume semiconductor manufacturing facility run by STMicroelectronics in Ang Mo Kio TechnoPark.
Singapore’s largest industrial district cooling system is now operational. Supplied by STMicroelectronics
At the core of the installation is a 2 000-tonne HFO-based chiller supplied by Daikin, designed to improve environmental performance while delivering significant operational efficiencies. The system is expected to reduce carbon emissions by around 120 000 tonnes annually and lower cooling-related electricity costs by approximately 20% each year. It also enhances water sustainability by repurposing more than 500 000m³ of reject reverse osmosis water previously used in cooling towers.
With a total installed capacity of 36 000 refrigeration tonnes, the district cooling system distributes chilled water via a centralised, closed-loop network serving both manufacturing and office facilities across roughly 90 000m². By replacing individual building-level chillers, the system improves overall efficiency and simplifies maintenance.
The plant has been awarded the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification by the Building and Construction Authority, recognising its high level of energy efficiency and sustainable design. A whole-life carbon assessment conducted during design and construction helped reduce embodied carbon by about 44% compared to typical industrial benchmarks, supported by optimised material selection and system configuration.
Expanding sustainability initiatives
Beyond Ang Mo Kio, SP Group has partnered with STMicroelectronics to upgrade the cooling system at the company’s Toa Payoh facility. Under a 20-year chilled-water-as-a-service agreement, SP Group will design, build, operate and maintain a high-efficiency chiller plant, with completion targeted for December 2025. The upgrade is expected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 2 140 tonnes per year.
At Ang Mo Kio TechnoPark, the centralised cooling approach has also freed up about 4 000m² of space, allowing for the installation of additional environmental mitigation technologies. These include perfluorocarbon (PFC) abatement systems, with further plans for water reclamation and volatile organic compound (VOC) reduction measures.
By consolidating cooling infrastructure, improving energy and water efficiency, and integrating advanced sustainability measures, the project establishes a new benchmark for industrial district cooling in Singapore.
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