Largest industrial district cooling system begins operations in AMK

Singapore’s largest industrial district cooling network by capacity was launched in Ang Mo Kio on Oct 21.

- Chin Hui Shan Zhaki Abdullah Correspondent

The pipes that transport chilled water to cool the industrial park and receive the warm water from the industrial park. The system helps to cut carbon emissions and enhance efficiency through economies of scale.

(ST PHOTOS: CHONG JUN LIANG)

It will cut cooling-related electricity consumption by 20 per cent, save over 500,000 cubic metres of water each year, and help reduce up to 120,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Covering 90,000 sq m, the centralised cooling network will supply chilled water to five buildings owned by global semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics in a technopark in Ang Mo Kio.

Other industrial areas with district cooling systems include Woodlands Wafer Fab Park, Jurong Innovation District and Changi Business Park, all operated by Keppel DHCS.

District cooling systems have also been rolled out in the civic district and residential areas, such as Marina Bay and Tampines.

A district cooling system provides chilled water to cool buildings, which are connected by a piping network to one or more centralised chiller plants. This helps to cut carbon emissions, save energy and enhance efficiency through economies of scale.

Besides cutting electricity consumption, the estimated decarbonisation stems from repurposing about 4,000 sq m of space across the five buildings previously occupied by chiller plants.