AirTrunk and ib vogt Break Ground with Malaysia’s First Renewable Virtual PPA for Data Centers

AirTrunk, a specialist in hyperscale data centers in the Asia Pacific & Japan (APJ) region, and ib vogt, an international renewable energy developer, have entered into a historic agreement by signing the first data center renewable energy Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) under Malaysia’s Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP).

The CGPP, initiated by Suruhanjaya Tenaga (Malaysia’s Energy Commission), enables businesses to participate in renewable energy projects in Malaysia through VPPAs. The program allocates a quota of 800 megawatts (MW) of solar energy generation capacity, with developers eligible to apply for a maximum capacity of 30MW with a secured offtaker.

AirTrunk, acting as the offtaker, will procure renewable energy from ib vogt’s 29.99MW solar farm currently being developed under the CGPP. Construction is slated to commence in mid-2024.

This partnership further solidifies AirTrunk’s commitment to sustainable practices, building on its renewable energy agreements in Hong Kong and Australia. These agreements include a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a new solar farm in Australia, contributing renewable energy to the grid, and a unique renewable energy solution in Hong Kong that aligns data center electricity consumption with local renewable energy certificates.

Damien Spillane, Chief Technology Officer of AirTrunk, emphasized the company’s dedication to leading sustainable initiatives in the industry. He highlighted the significance of this partnership in driving digitalization in Malaysia and advancing AirTrunk’s goal of achieving Net Zero and decarbonizing the APJ’s electricity grid through the development of their 150MW AirTrunk JHB1 data center.

David Ludwig, Chief Executive Officer of ib vogt APAC, applauded Malaysia and AirTrunk for their proactive stance in transitioning towards clean energy. He emphasized ib vogt’s commitment to supporting corporations in meeting their renewable energy goals through strategic partnerships with industry leaders like AirTrunk, thereby facilitating the decarbonization of supply chains in Southeast Asia.