Bridge Data Centres and EcoCeres have successfully completed a pioneering HVO-powered backup fuel pilot in Asia Pacific, marking a significant leap in sustainable data centre operations.
Technical Validation and the Groundbreaking Pilot Success
Bridge Data Centres (BDC), the Singapore-headquartered hyperscale data centre provider, has reached a major sustainability milestone in collaboration with EcoCeres, a global leader in renewable fuels. The two organizations successfully completed their inaugural Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)-powered backup fuel pilot at BDC’s data centre campuses in Thailand. This initiative serves as a critical proof-of-concept for the region, demonstrating that high-performance data infrastructure can operate reliably while significantly reducing its reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
The pilot program was rigorous in its execution, covering the full spectrum of emergency backup power scenarios essential for maintaining uptime in a hyperscale environment. This included testing generator startup, load transfer, and sustained operations under real-world data centre conditions. Throughout these tests, the HVO fuel met all performance and emissions targets, proving that renewable alternatives are not only viable but also highly effective in demanding technical settings.
Building on the success of this initial pilot, BDC has already completed large-scale HVO testing across multiple locations to ensure the scalability of the solution. The results indicate that HVO-powered energy solutions are ready for broader deployment across BDC’s extensive data centre campus in Asia Pacific and beyond. This move aligns with the company’s broader strategy to integrate innovative clean energy solutions into its infrastructure as it scales to meet the growing demands of global AI workloads.
HVO as a Strategic Catalyst for Rapid Decarbonization
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, or HVO, represents a next-generation breakthrough in renewable fuel technology specifically designed for hard-to-abate industries. Unlike traditional biodiesel, HVO is derived from 100% waste-based feedstock and acts as a high-quality “drop-in” substitute for conventional fossil diesel. This means it can be utilized immediately within existing infrastructure, providing a seamless transition for operators looking to reduce their carbon footprint without massive capital reinvestment.
One of the most compelling aspects of HVO is its immediate environmental impact, as it is capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 per cent. In addition to its low-carbon profile, the fuel offers a practical advantage for data centre operators because it requires absolutely no modifications to existing backup generators. This ease of implementation allows companies to pivot toward greener operations rapidly, addressing the urgent need for net-zero transitions in the energy-intensive tech sector.
The collaboration with EcoCeres highlights the importance of using vertically-integrated technologies to solve complex energy challenges. As a pure-play renewable fuels producer, EcoCeres brings the technical expertise necessary to ensure that waste-based fuels can meet the stringent reliability and performance requirements of the hyperscale industry. By proving that these fuels perform at scale, the partnership offers a clear, actionable pathway for the entire data centre industry to significantly lower its operational emissions.
Visionary Leadership and the Future of Hyperscale Energy
The leadership at both BDC and EcoCeres views this pilot as a foundational step toward a more sustainable digital economy. Eric Fan, CEO of Bridge Data Centres, emphasized that sustainability is no longer an optional component but a core pillar of BDC’s strategy. He noted that as AI workloads continue to expand, the industry must find ways to balance performance with environmental responsibility.
“Sustainability is core to BDC’s strategy. As AI workloads continue to scale across the region, we are committed to advancing innovative clean energy solutions that reduce our carbon footprint while meeting the performance and reliability requirements of our hyperscale customers. The success of our inaugural pilot in Asia Pacific demonstrates that HVO-powered backup fuel is a feasible and replicable concept for other high-growth data centre markets.” — Eric Fan, CEO of Bridge Data Centres.
Similarly, Matti Lievonen, CEO of EcoCeres, pointed out that decarbonizing data centres is one of the most technically demanding challenges in the current net-zero transition. He expressed pride in the partnership’s ability to demonstrate that HVO is ready for real-world operations at scale. Lievonen believes that by proving the reliability of waste-based renewable fuels in existing systems, they are providing a practical solution for operators to maintain high standards while going green.
“Decarbonising data centres is one of the most urgent and technically demanding challenges in the net zero transition, and we are proud to partner with Bridge Data Centres to demonstrate that HVO is ready to perform at scale in real-world operations. By proving that waste based renewable fuels can meet stringent reliability and performance requirements in existing diesel backup systems, this pilot offers a practical way for operators to significantly reduce emissions while maintaining the highest standards of reliability.” — Matti Lievonen, CEO of EcoCeres.
Regional Expansion and Industry-Wide Impact
The success of the HVO pilot is part of a much larger narrative for Bridge Data Centres, which is backed by Bain Capital and operates in high-growth markets including Malaysia, Thailand, and India. With a global capability target of up to 3 gigawatts (GW) of capacity by 2030, BDC’s commitment to HVO is a signal to the market that rapid growth and environmental stewardship can go hand-in-hand. The company intends to further deploy these HVO-powered solutions across its regional footprint to set a new standard for the industry.
This milestone was preceded by a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BDC and EcoCeres, which established a framework for jointly piloting and promoting HVO adoption. Beyond the technical pilot, the two companies plan to collaborate on developing common standards and practical guidelines for the rest of the industry. These guidelines will be essential for supporting broader HVO adoption and helping other data centre operators navigate the complexities of fuel transition.
Furthermore, this HVO initiative is just one piece of BDC’s wider push to advance clean energy solutions. The company is also involved in developing Singapore’s first floating hydrogen power generation solution, specifically tailored for the next generation of AI-driven data centres. By exploring multiple avenues—from HVO to hydrogen—BDC is positioning itself at the forefront of the green energy revolution in the Asia Pacific digital infrastructure sector.
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