Bridge Data Centres has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hong Kong-based biofuels firm EcoCeres to partner on the development and use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a potential replacement for diesel in its backup generation systems.

According to the partners, they will work together on developing the technical specifications and practical solutions to support the use of HVO in operations, with the collaboration aiming to set up Singapore as a hub for the initiative.

The MoU will also set the parameters for the implementation of a pilot project that aims to establish new standards for sustainability within the data center market.

HVO, commonly referred to as renewable diesel, is derived from sustainable sources such as used cooking oil and animal fats from the food industry. It serves as a direct substitute for conventional diesel, requiring no alterations to current engine systems. HVO can also be mixed with traditional diesel fuel and performs effectively in both cold and warm weather conditions.

Bridge DC has a presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region, with six data centers either active or under construction in Malaysia. In 2021, the company unveiled plans for a 16MW facility at its MY03 site located in Mranti Park, Kuala Lumpur, followed by an expansion announcement in 2023. Bridge DC also runs two data centers in Cyberjaya and is currently developing a third. Additionally, a new facility near Johor was launched in 2022.

The deal is EcoCeres’ first in the data center market.

HVO is gaining wide adoption across the data center market, with several major operators using it to power their backup generators.

Earlier this year, Verne, a European data center developer, announced plans to use HVO at its London data center in Farringdon. The decision follows a similar partnership in Finland last year, where Verne partnered with Neste Oyj, which will supply HVO to all of Verne’s Finnish data centers.

The major barriers to its widespread adoption lie in a constrained supply chain, with reliable supply not immediately available in all jurisdictions. Europe has seen the most widespread adoption, with AWS in Sweden, Vantage in Wales, and Stack Infrastructure in Norway all adopting the fuel for use in their backup generation units.