New Delhi — STMicroelectronics and SP Group have started operating one of the Singapore’s largest industrial district cooling system at STMicroelectronics’ Ang Mo Kio TechnoPark, said a statement.
The facility was inaugurated by Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry and for Culture, Community and Youth.
According to the two companies, the new cooling system is expected to reduce carbon emissions by up to 120,000 tonnes each year. It could also cut electricity use for cooling by about 20 per cent.
The system will reuse more than half a million cubic metres of water annually. This will be achieved by using water previously discharged from ST’s cooling towers after reverse osmosis treatment, a process that removes impurities.
STMicroelectronics, a Franco-Italian semiconductor manufacturer, said this is the first time it is using district cooling at one of its manufacturing sites. District cooling supplies chilled water through a central network to multiple buildings instead of each building having its own chiller units.
The company said the move supports its target to become carbon neutral by 2027.
SP Group, which operates Singapore’s national power grid, described the project as an example of how joint industrial efforts can support the country’s plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency.
How the district cooling system works
The new plant was designed, built and is operated by a joint venture between SP Group and Daikin Airconditioning Singapore. It has a cooling capacity of up to 36,000 refrigeration tonnes, a standard unit used to measure cooling power.
The system sends chilled water through closed pipes to cool about 90,000 square metres of manufacturing and office space. This replaces the need for separate cooling systems in each building.
The chillers use a configuration called “series counterflow”, which allows the water to be cooled using less energy. Remote monitoring tools are in place to track performance and support on-site teams.
The project has also freed about 4,000 square metres of space at the Ang Mo Kio site. STMicroelectronics plans to use the area for equipment that helps reduce emissions, such as systems for capturing gases and reclaiming water used in production.
The construction achieved over two million man-hours without any reported accidents, according to the company. The plant has received the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy certification from Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority.
Design choices, such as selecting low-impact materials, have helped lower the amount of carbon emitted during construction by around 44 per cent compared with standard industrial buildings.
STMicroelectronics and SP Group combine digital technology
STMicroelectronics and SP Group said they are also working together to modernise the cooling system at ST’s Toa Payoh site. The upgrade, due for completion by December 2025, is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes a year.
The two companies are also installing smart systems that monitor energy and water use across ST’s sites. These systems include over 2,000 smart meters and sensors to help identify areas where consumption can be reduced.
According to both firms, the collaboration aims to combine digital technology and low-carbon solutions to help make industrial operations more energy-efficient and sustainable in the long term.
