TopTier – April 2025

We are delighted to share the April edition of TopTier. The newsletter will focus on hot topics and legal development impacting on various aspects of the data centre industry.

This issue has been edited by Vince Baudille and Gigi Cheah with contributions from the Data Centre's team.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any of the issues raised in these articles, or visit our webpage for more information about Bird & Bird’s International Data Centre Group.

Click on the links below to jump to the respective article:

Contents

1. The quest for green data centres
   
2. The rise of modular data centres
   
3. EU and UK: Data centres - the key issues for businesses
   
4. The new cybersecurity dawn – Hong Kong readies for new critical infrastructure legislation
   
5. Cooling the cloud: A focus on the water usage of data centres
   
6. Navigating regulatory and operational challenges in the European data centre industry
   
7. Events

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READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER HERE

The quest for green data centres: regulations on energy, water and building infrastructure in Singapore

The government aims for data centres in Singapore to achieve a water usage effectiveness of 2.0m3/MWh or less within the next 10 years. Data centre businesses are subject to general legislation on water consumption and wastewater discharge, such as those listed below.

For more information, please contact Sandra Seah and Genessa Chew.

APAC: The rise of modular data centres

The Australian building and development sectors are undergoing significant transformation, driven by the rise of pre-fabricated, modular construction.
Cloud computing along with the need for fast, scalable, mobile, cost-effective and disaster-resilient infrastructure is driving demand for modular data centre solutions that keep pace with data and technology industries.

READ THE FULL STORY 

For more information, please contact Conor Matthews and Kennedy Taylor-Louisson.

EU and UK: Data centres - the key issues for businesses

As demand for data processing and storage continues to surge, driven by advancements in AI and other technologies, the construction, secure operation and sustainability of data centres have become focal points for industry stakeholders and the wider global community. There are a number of challenges that arise in the context of data centres, such as increasing pressure to reduce carbon footprint, reducing energy and water usage, and recycling waste heat. Further challenges include new regulatory regimes in the EU and the UK, cyber security and data protection risks, and practical issues around constructing data centres.

The new cybersecurity dawn – Hong Kong readies for new critical infrastructure legislation

Data centres are vital components of modern infrastructure, serving as the backbone for digital communication, data storage, and processing. As the world increasingly relies on digital technologies (particularly with the advancement of AI and remote working), data centres facilitate the seamless operation of everything from cloud services, AI solutions and e-commerce platforms to critical government, financial and healthcare systems. Recognising this, the UK government has recently in September of 2024 elevated data centres to Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) status, acknowledging their pivotal role in powering the digital economy and safeguarding sensitive information.

READ THE FULL STORY

For more information, please contact Wilfred Ng and Hwee Yong Neo.

Cooling the cloud: A focus on the water usage of data centres

Data centres are the backbone of our information-driven society, powering everything from AI to cloud computing. However, there is a growing awareness of their environmental impact, particularly their water usage.

Navigating regulatory and operational challenges in the European data centre industry

Bird & Bird’s London office recently hosted panel discussions focusing on the future of data centres, addressing both industry and regulatory challenges and opportunities in Europe. The panel discussions were separated by a keynote speech given by Lex Coors, a global leader in sustainable data centre developments, who gave an insightful presentation on the evolution of data centres, the importance of clean energy, and the role of legislation in shaping industry practices.

Events

Techview 2025

8 May
13:30 CEST
Netherlands