Yondr delivers Johor AI data centre phase six months early

Yondr Group has completed the first 25MW IT phase of its Johor, Malaysia data centre, handing over to the client six months ahead of schedule.

The new facility, which is planned to reach a total capacity of 98MW IT, is located in Sedenak Tech Park, Johor on a 72.5-acre site within Yondr's 300MW IT campus. It represents Yondr's first operational data centre in the Asia-Pacific region, aligning with the company's ongoing expansion across Europe and North America.

The Johor data centre has been designed and delivered specifically for AI and machine learning applications, supporting GPU-based workloads as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure continues to grow in Southeast Asia. Yondr worked closely with its client throughout the development, resulting in the early delivery of a fully fitted and rack-ready data centre environment.

The facility is the first phase of what is described as the largest hyperscale data centre campus in Southeast Asia. The early completion is being highlighted by Yondr as evidence of the company's capacity to deliver large scale infrastructure within accelerated timelines, despite market constraints affecting construction and supply chains worldwide.

Operational milestone

Mark Avery, Senior Vice President of Design & Construction APAC at Yondr Group, said the milestone was significant for the company and for the regional sector as a whole.

"The first ready-for-service (RFS) milestone at our data center is a momentous occasion; for Yondr, for our 300MW+ IT campus and for the APAC data center market."

He continued, "As the data race continues to escalate thanks to the growth in AI, we are delivering on our blueprint for direct-to-chip cooled, cost-efficient, secure and scalable data centers around the world, supporting our clients to provide the urgent capacity they require in strategic locations, with resilience and sustainability designed into every asset."

Aksel Vansten, Development Director – APAC at Yondr, outlined the broader context of Yondr's presence in Malaysia and the support received from national stakeholders: "Yondr entered the Malaysian data center market just three years ago and became one of Johor's pioneers, joined by some of the largest data center developer-operators and cloud AI/ML end users in the globe.

"We are proud to be delivering our initial RFS milestone here so far ahead of schedule with a project that brought online the largest scale and highest quality asset in the region with an unyielding commitment to health and safety. We are thankful to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), as well as International Finance Corporation (IFC) and all our lenders and vendors for their invaluable support."

Financing and sustainability

Securing project financing was highlighted as an important component of the development. Yondr obtained more than USD $900 million for the project in December, with a consortium of lenders including DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, Global Infrastructure Partners (a part of Blackrock), HSBC, International Finance Corporation (IFC), ING, and Natixis CIB, supporting the effort. The financing was structured as a green loan in alignment with Yondr's sustainability objectives and Green Loan Principles.

This green loan is primarily intended to support industry-leading power usage effectiveness metrics at the Johor site, supported by direct-to-chip cooling systems designed to minimise energy consumption and promote sustainable operations.

Hisham Muhammad, Yondr's Client Solutions Engineering Director APAC, commented on the technical and environmental aspects: "Liquid-to-chip and heat rejection will be central to achieving industry-leading PUE standards at our facility in Johor, delivering on Yondr's green loan obligations, our sustainability aims, and the client's vision for long-term environmental performance.

"We are delighted not only to celebrate our first completion milestone, but also to be announcing it six months ahead of schedule. We'd like to thank our client for working in close collaboration with us – an approach that Yondr aspires to on every project."

Regional outlook

The accelerated delivery of the first phase in Johor is part of Yondr's wider global rollout of hyperscale infrastructure, with live projects progressing across three continents. The company positions its Johor data centre as further entrenching Malaysia's role as a regional hub for digital economy and data services.

Paul Dillon, Chief Development Officer at Yondr, stated: "What has been achieved on this landmark project is a testament to our people's strategic foresight and commitment to forging deep local partnerships. It positions Malaysia as a regional hub for digital innovation and ensures our clients are ready for the data-driven future. I would like to personally thank our internal Yondr teams and valued partners without whom this wouldn't be possible."