AI Cools Asia: Midea & Keppel Forge Green Tech Pact

Midea Building Technologies (MBT) and Keppel Ltd.'s Infrastructure Division have formed a strategic collaboration to develop advanced, energy-efficient cooling solutions powered by artificial intelligence throughout Asia. This partnership leverages MBT's extensive experience in HVAC manufacturing and intelligent building systems alongside Keppel's proficiency in Cooling-as-a-Service and digital optimization.

The collaboration will focus on co-developing standardized, modular cooling systems. These systems are designed to be flexible and require minimal capital expenditure, allowing for easier deployment and scaling across various sectors. By utilizing a pre-engineered, modular approach, Keppel can pre-fabricate units for efficient on-site assembly.

These modular systems will integrate with Keppel's Operations Nerve Centre (ONC), which runs on its proprietary digital platform, 'Infrastructure Intelligence' (II). This platform uses AI and machine learning for real-time monitoring and advanced performance analytics, enabling remote, 24/7 management of the cooling modules. When combined with MBT's smart equipment and IoT sensors, the AI-enabled solution promises enhanced reliability and reduced lifecycle carbon emissions.

An AI-first Centre of Excellence will be established to support engineering, standardization, and optimization across future projects. Key target sectors include data centers, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and education campuses. The partnership aims to move beyond one-off projects to create repeatable, standardized sustainable cooling solutions accessible and affordable at scale, building on existing collaborations like Keppel's HDB Tengah Centralised Cooling Systems project in Singapore.