Tropical Penalty: Operating Data Centres in Malaysia's Hot Climate

Dec 22, 2025  (Bernama) -- We talk a lot about data centres as engines of growth. Less about the climate they operate in.

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In hot, humid countries like Malaysia, keeping always-on servers cool takes more energy, more water, and puts more strain on equipment.

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That extra burden has a name: the tropical penalty.

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It doesn’t mean data centres don’t belong here. It means design, regulation, and resource planning actually matter.

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This explainer can also be viewed on our Instagram page.

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