Keppel Infrastructure launches building in Changi

Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, gave a formal opening speech on October 13 at the Keppel Infrastructure facility in Changi. The building is Singapore’s first Green Mark Platinum Positive Energy building under the new, more rigorous Green Mark scheme, and it was constructed by Keppel Corp.’s wholly-owned subsidiary Keppel Infrastructure (KI) Holdings. It houses the hub of KI’s operations, which makes use of cutting-edge digital and machine learning technologies to offer continuous, real-time oversight of KI’s activities around Singapore.

On a 1.06-ha site, the building was constructed in 2013 and annexed to the Changi District Cooling Systems Plant of Keppel DHCS. By the way, Keppel DHCS is the biggest supplier of district cooling systems in Singapore. Work on the expedited retrofitting project started at the end of 2021 and was finished in May. They included the installation of smart sensors, LED lights, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and vertical vegetation in addition to improving the mechanical ventilation and high-efficiency air conditioning systems.

Photovoltaic (PV) panels covering more than 4,000 square metres were also installed on the building’s roof and façade. These panels are anticipated to produce over 600,000 kWh of renewable energy annually, more than double the amount needed by the structure. The decrease in carbon emissions is comparable to the 7,000 trees planted.

Water-saving fixtures are installed in the structure to save water consumption and collect rainwater for irrigation. Sustainable materials and goods were used in the construction of internal fit-outs, road kerbs, wheel stoppers, and waterproofing systems.

Under the Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme, the National Parks Board co-funded vertical greening and biophilic landscaping. This improves the performance of the internal environment while boosting the health and well-being of the building’s residents. It also adds over 910 sqm of greenery to the building.

In order to provide real-time surveillance of the infrastructure company’s activities throughout Singapore, starting with its district cooling facilities, the facility will make use of cutting-edge digital and machine learning technologies.

Two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) for $100 million were also signed by KI. One was working with Medtronic Singapore to offer energy as a service, which included installing solar panels and electric vehicle chargers as well as district cooling. The other involved district cooling solutions for SATS’s (Singapore Airport Terminal Services) inflight meals and maintenance facilities in Changi North.

“More than just a green building, Keppel Infrastructure at Changi serves as a mission-critical operation nerve centre for four district cooling plants operated by Keppel DHCS across Singapore. Over time, we plan to extend the nerve centre’s coverage to our other water, waste treatment and energy plants in Singapore, and then to our operations overseas,” says Cindy Lim, CEO of Keppel Infrastructure.