AirTrunk to develop 150MW campus in Johor, Malaysia

AirTrunk is expanding into Malaysia, with its first data center in the country. The facility, JHB1, will be in the Johor Bahru area, and span 21,900 sqm (235,750 sq ft) of space across 20 data halls, offering more than 150MW of capacity. In addition to this, it will have 370 sqm (4,000 sqm) of office and storage area, and according to the company, the first phases of JHB1 will provide 50MW of capacity.

Commenting on the expansion, AirTrunk founder and chief executive officer Robin Khuda said: “It is an exciting time for our business as we announce a new data center in a new country with a large anchor tenant. AirTrunk continues to develop critical digital infrastructure to support accelerating digitalization in the region.”

AirTrunk chief technology officer, Damien Spillane, added: “With its flexible designs and innovations driving energy and water efficiencies in tropic climates, JHB1 will be the most sustainable data center in Malaysia. In line with our Net Zero by 2030 target, we are working with our customers to source renewable energy to match electricity consumption at the data center.”

AirTrunk’s sustainability-linked loan framework will fund the facility, with a number of ‘sustainable innovations’ built into the design, including a cooling solution utilizing a combination of indirect evaporative cooling (IEC) and direct-to-chip liquid cooling technology. Further to this, the company will also have a solar-ready roof, equipped to add 5MW of solar panels. 

Construction is due to commence shortly, with a view to completion in 2024.