Singapore has introduced a new national standard, SS 715:2025, designed to raise the energy efficiency performance of IT equipment used in data centres. Developed by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), this standard sets minimum efficiency thresholds for servers, storage systems, and networking hardware. By aligning its rules with international programs such as US Energy Star and EU Ecodesign, Singapore is ensuring its digital infrastructure remains both globally competitive and environmentally responsible.
Core Elements of SS 715:2025
The new standard forms part of the broader Green Data Centre Roadmap and lays out clear expectations for both equipment capabilities and operational practices inside data centres. Rather than focusing solely on hardware specifications, it also addresses how equipment should be deployed and maintained.
Key elements include:
Mandatory efficiency baselines consistent with major international energy-efficiency programs
Guidance on optimising equipment use, including retiring older hardware, consolidating workloads, and monitoring utilisation
Higher allowable operating temperatures of up to 35°C, helping reduce energy consumed by cooling systems — each additional degree is estimated to deliver 2–5% energy savings
This holistic approach aims to reduce energy demand without compromising performance or reliability.
Supporting Industry Transition
To help data centre operators meet the new standard, IMDA has expanded eligibility for its Energy Efficiency Grant, enabling companies to upgrade or replace equipment that falls short of the new requirements. SS 715:2025 also complements SS 697:2023, Singapore’s tropical data centre standard, which supports warmer operational environments that are better suited to the region’s climate.
By aligning its requirements with major global reference standards, Singapore also gives manufacturers and suppliers a clearer pathway for product acceptance and reduces duplicated compliance testing.
What This Means for Data Centre Operators
The introduction of SS 715:2025 marks a major milestone for Singapore’s digital infrastructure strategy. Operators will need to:
- Review their current IT hardware against the new performance metrics
- Identify equipment that requires upgrading or replacement
- Implement stronger utilisation monitoring and efficiency reporting
The standard not only raises the bar for energy performance but also reinforces Singapore’s broader commitment to sustainable, high-performing data centre operations.