Malaysia’s data center market, concentrated in Johor state, has grown from near zero in 2019 to 1.6 gigawatts, with projections exceeding 5 gigawatts by 2035. The country attracted over USD 31 billion in data center investments in the first 10 months of 2024, tripling 2023 levels. Foreign firms, including Equinix, Microsoft, and China’s GDS Holdings, dominate the sector, with Johor hosting 22 mostly foreign-owned centers spanning over 21 hectares. The government expects data centers to modernise Malaysia’s economy but acknowledges their substantial energy demand. Malaysia’s renewable energy capacity in 2023 was less than the projected data center consumption in 2035, and 95% of the country’s energy came from fossil fuels in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated in September 2023 that Malaysia had a surplus of energy to sustain large projects. Concerns include water shortages and power reliability, as data centers require significant cooling and electricity, especially in Malaysia’s tropical climate. Malaysia is now the eighth-largest data center market globally and is on track to enter the top 10 within five to seven years. (ICE KUALA LUMPUR)

Fonte notizia: 06 marzo 2025, Kuala Lumpur