Firmus Technologies Bags Top Honor With Groundbreaking Ai Factory Data Centre

Firmus Technologies Wins Asia Pacific Data Centre Project of the Year Award for AI Factory Facility

Singapore-based Firmus Technologies has been recognized with the Asia Pacific Data Centre Project of the Year award for its innovative AI Factory facility. The facility stands out for its advanced infrastructure and focus on energy efficiency, reflecting broader efforts to meet the rising demands of AI computing sustainably.

The AI Factory is part of Firmus’s ongoing initiative to transform existing ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) into GPU-powered AI computing platforms. The redesigned centres are equipped with state-of-the-art hardware and efficient cooling systems, enabling them to meet both enterprise and research needs with improved energy performance metrics.

As artificial intelligence continues to need more power, energy efficiency has become a major issue. Firmus has addressed this challenge for nearly a decade with its AI Factory platform, which combines advanced immersion cooling technology with dependable design, build, and operation services. The company states that its platform has several significant advantages, including:

• Energy efficiency: 45% more FLOP per utility picoJoule than traditional data centres
• Cost-effectiveness: Up to 30% cheaper total cost of ownership (TCO) than direct-to-chip cooling platforms
• Scalability and sustainability: Supports high-density AI workloads while reducing environmental effects
• Global expertise: A track record in building and operating immersion-cooled data centres in Singapore and Australia

The deployment of the AI Factory in Singapore showcases how innovative approaches to data centre infrastructure can address the energy demands of AI. The project highlights a potential pathway for sustainable AI development by achieving a pPUE of 1.02 and a reduction in energy consumption of 45%. This achievement aligns with Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0, which emphasizes sustainable growth in AI and data centre innovation.

Tim Rosenfield, co-CEO of Firmus Technologies, explained the broader vision behind the project: “By rethinking data centre design, we have created a platform that supports the growth of AI while promoting environmental sustainability. If we can do it in Singapore, where space is constrained and the humid climate is against us, we can do it anywhere.”

Firmus has recently changed its leadership team, adding Dr. Daniel Kearney as chief technology officer. Previously AWS’s Head of Technology for the ASEAN Enterprise business, Kearney leads the engineering team at Firmus. He pointed out how sustainable AI infrastructure is becoming essential as AI technologies expand: “This win against established data centre players recognizes the importance of technology like ours in meeting the growth of AI and the energy challenges it brings.”

Firmus has also been advancing its work through the Sustainable Metal Cloud (SMC), an initiative aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of AI infrastructure. Recent updates include power efficiency benchmarks, policy contributions to the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change’s agenda on managing AI sector energy demands, industry discussions at ATxSG24, and the expansion of Hypercube installations in multiple regions.

Firmus Technologies’ innovative approach to data centre infrastructure has earned it recognition as a leader in sustainable AI development. The company continues to push the boundaries of what is possible with AI and energy efficiency, inspiring other organizations to follow its lead.

Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 emphasizes sustainable growth in AI and data centre innovation, aligning with Firmus’s achievement of a pPUE of 1.02 and reduced energy consumption of 45%. The company’s leadership has made significant contributions to this agenda through policy discussions and industry collaborations.

Firmus Technologies’ commitment to sustainability and innovation is expected to drive the future of AI development in Singapore and beyond.