PTT Digital signs MOU with STT GDC Thailand for feasibility study to utilise cold energy from LNG
Terdkiat Prommool, Senior Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Sustainability of PTT Public Company Limited and Chairman of PTT Digital Solutions Company Limited presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between PTT Digital Solutions Company Limited or “PTT Digital”, an information and communication technology service provider under PTT Group, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (Thailand) or “STT GDC Thailand” to jointly study, design and undertake a feasibility study to harness the cold energy released from the regasification of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to produce electricity and chilled water for cooling in a data centre environment.
The agreement was signed by Kaweesak Boonchalaew, Managing Director of PTT Digital Solutions Company Limited and Supparat Sivapetchranat Singhara Na Ayutthaya, Chief Executive Officer of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (Thailand) at Palang Thai Room on 3rd Floor, Tower 1, PTT Head Office.
The regasification of LNG contains significant embedded energy, also known as cold energy, which is an untapped resource that can be used to produce electricity and for cooling in a data centre environment. PTT Digital in collaboration with PTT Group will help facilitate the tapping of this cold energy, which would otherwise go to waste, as an alternative energy source in the data centre environment. This will be a first for Thailand and will set new standards in the reduction of carbon emissions for the data centre industry.
Kaweesak Boonchaleaw, Managing Director of PTT Digital Solutions Company Limited, said: “PTT Digital focuses on the PTT vision to enhance energy management efficiency for the country’s energy sustainability through Future Energy and Beyond by utilising untapped energy and digital innovations. The collaboration with STT GDC Thailand and feasibility study supports this vision as we jointly seek a more sustainable data centre industry. Moreover, it also reinforces our determination to achieve total carbon neutrality for the PTT Group before 2040. PTT Digital as a digital initiative leader will work closely with STT GDC Thailand on this feasibility study to explore sustainable innovations that can be embedded in the design of a hyperscale data centre, ensuring it is optimised to take full advantage of new energy solutions that increase its environmental friendliness.”
Supparat Sivapetchranat Singhara Na Ayutthaya, Chief Executive Officer at ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (Thailand), said: “As a data centre operator with a worldwide footprint, STT GDC believes in doing right by people and planet. With Thailand's data centre industry expected to grow 25-28% annually, and the data centres forecasted to utilise 407 megawatts in 2024 alone, equivalent to the power consumption by 407,000 households annually, it is imperative that we seek more sustainable solutions. We are pleased to collaborate with PTT Digital in aligning our economic growth with our ESG accountabilities, to jointly establish a sustainable digital future for the benefit of the industry.”
As part of the MOU, PTT Digital and STT GDC Thailand also plan to explore the use of alternative energy sources for data centre operations to support Thailand’s digital economy and the country’s potential for country economic development. Our goals are to reduce energy consumption by at least 20%-30%, adjust the efficiency of the cooling and electric power system so that it improves Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and reduce carbon emissions.
