Malaysia has reached a new milestone in sustainable digital infrastructure with the country’s first hyperscale data centre to receive provisional GreenRE Platinum certification for water, energy and sustainability design.
The AI-capable hyperscale facility by ZDATA Group Co. Ltd, located in Gelang Patah, Johor, sets a new benchmark for environmentally responsible digital infrastructure in the country.
This Platinum rating is the highest sustainability rating under the GreenRE scheme, established by the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA).
The ZDATA facility is currently the only data centre in the country with this accomplishment. This adds to its Malaysia Green Data Centre Recycled Water Certification, received in August 2025, acknowledging its pioneering use of reclaimed water in a large-scale digital infrastructure. These, amongst others, underscore the company’s commitment to applying sustainable technologies in supporting the nation’s digital economy.
Engineered to Tier 3+ standards, ZDATA’s data centre development forms part of a RM8 billion project on a 38-acre site. To date, approximately 18 acres of this have been developed, covering Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the project.
Phase 1 of the facility has been completed and is scheduled to commence operations in March 2026. Construction for Phase 2 is currently underway, with operations expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026. The remaining phases of development are scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.
One of the most distinctive sustainability features of ZDATA’s facility is its design to run on 100% reclaimed water, treated through two dedicated water treatment plants located in close proximity to the data centre.
While cooling operations inherently require water, using reclaimed sources ensures the state’s domestic (potable) water supply will not be used for cooling, therefore minimising impact on local freshwater resources.
ZDATA was also among the earliest signatories to the Johor Special Water Project (JSW), a regional initiative by the state government aimed at promoting sustainable water use among high-impact industries, particularly the rapidly expanding data centre sector.
Engineered for Energy Efficiency, With Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Impact
Beyond water sustainability, ZDATA’s data centre is also designed to achieve high energy efficiency standards, largely powered by renewable energy.
The company recently signed an MoU for a large-scale, long-term green energy supply programme in which renewable energy generated by solar farm assets for its data centre facility. Scheduled to commence in 2028, the programme is projected to deliver approximately 630,000 MWh of renewable energy annually. This represents a significant milestone in decarbonizing its infrastructure and directly supports Malaysia’s national energy transition goals.
Other key energy efficiency designs for the data centre include advanced closed-loop cooling technologies, high-efficiency uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and optimised power distribution architecture that together support a low Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) — a critical benchmark for measuring data centre energy efficiency.
While PUE performance ultimately depends on client IT workloads, the facility’s infrastructure has been engineered to minimise overhead energy consumption and maximise operational efficiency at varying utilisation levels.
These water and energy design elements were key factors in securing the GreenRE Platinum rating, which is awarded to buildings that demonstrate leading-edge sustainability practices such as renewable integration, advanced monitoring systems and measurable environmental performance.
ZDATA is committed to contributing to Malaysia’s vision of becoming a leading regional hub for sustainable digital infrastructure. Through the development of advanced data centre capacity in Johor, the company seeks to support the nation’s digital growth while promoting higher standards in energy efficiency, water stewardship, and long-term infrastructure sustainability.
With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and cloud adoption, ZDATA’s goal is to help foster a resilient and future-ready digital ecosystem in Malaysia — one that supports innovation, strengthens digital connectivity, and creates long-term value for the broader economy and community
