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Bangi, 15 April 2026 – In a decisive move to align digital infrastructure growth with national energy efficiency goals, Malaysia is advancing the development of energy efficiency labelling guidelines for data centres, marking the next phase of implementation under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2024 (EECA 2024).
The Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga) convened a Kick-Off Meeting of the Working Group on Data Centre Energy Efficiency Labelling, bringing together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and technical experts to collaboratively shape a robust, sector-specific framework.
As one of the fastest-growing and most energy-intensive sectors, data centres are now firmly on the national agenda. This initiative builds on Malaysia’s earlier step of introducing energy labelling for office buildings, positioning data centres as the next critical asset class in advancing transparent energy performance standards and regulatory oversight.
The forthcoming guidelines will establish standardised criteria for data centre classification, methodologies for measuring energy intensity, and a national rating system aligned with operational realities of the sector. For industry players, this provides a clear pathway toward benchmarking performance, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing competitiveness in an increasingly sustainability-driven market. For policymakers, it strengthens the foundation for evidence-based regulation and long-term energy planning.
A key highlight of the session was a technical presentation by Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Zainuddin Manan of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Optimal Systems Engineering Sdn Bhd, who shared insights from the 2024 Building Energy Benchmarking study, which included the development of a draft benchmarking guideline for data centres. As the National Project Director for the MESITA’s Building Energy Intensity (BEI) Benchmarking Project, Prof. Zainuddin’s contribution underscored the importance of data-driven approaches in establishing credible, measurable, and scalable energy labelling frameworks.
His insights are expected to play a pivotal role in guiding the development of data centre-specific benchmarks, ensuring alignment with international best practices while reflecting Malaysia’s local context.
The initiative signals Malaysia’s commitment to balancing rapid digitalisation with sustainable energy use. By introducing energy labelling for data centres, the country aims to drive efficiency improvements, reduce carbon intensity, and support the transition towards greener digital infrastructure, while providing industry with the clarity needed to invest and innovate responsibly.
