Singapore has unveiled 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 and supporting a high-volume semiconductor manufacturing site operated by STMicroelectronics at Ang Mo Kio TechnoPark.
Singapore’s largest industrial district cooling system is now operational. Supplied by STMicroelectronics
At the heart of the system is a 2 000 tonne Daikin HFO chiller, which is expected to enhance environmental performance while delivering substantial operational savings. The new cooling infrastructure is projected to cut carbon emissions by 120 000 tonnes annually and reduce electricity costs related to cooling by 20% per year. Moreover, it repurposes over 500 000m³ of water annually, using reject reverse osmosis water previously consumed in ST’s cooling towers.
The system, with a total installed capacity of 36 000RT, supplies continuous chilled water to both manufacturing and office spaces through a centralised closed-loop pipe network, replacing individual chillers in each building. The network serves a total area of approximately 90 000m².
The district cooling plant has received the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification from Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority, recognising its exceptional energy efficiency and sustainable design. Incorporating whole-life carbon assessments during the plant’s design and construction reduced embodied carbon by about 44% compared to industrial building benchmarks, thanks to optimised material choices and system design.
Expanding sustainability initiatives
SP Group has also partnered with STMicroelectronics to upgrade the cooling system at its Toa Payoh site. Under a 20-year chilled-water-as-a-service agreement, SP will design, build, operate and maintain a high-efficiency chiller system, scheduled for completion in December 2025.
The system will improve energy efficiency and aims to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 2 140 tonnes per year.
At Ang Mo Kio TechnoPark, the new installations free up around 4 000m² of space, enabling ST to deploy additional equipment that supports further environmental impact mitigation. This includes perfluorocarbon (PFC) abatement equipment, with plans for future water reclamation systems and volatile organic compounds (VOC) abatement as part of ongoing sustainability efforts.
By centralising cooling, optimising energy and water use, and integrating sustainable technologies, the district cooling system sets a new benchmark for industrial energy efficiency and environmental responsibility in Singapore.
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