Taiwan's National Center for High Performance Computing Cloud Compute Center achieved Silver Green Building certification for energy efficiency and sustainability.
As artificial intelligence advances rapidly, computing power has become essential for scientific research, technological innovation, and industrial development. The National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC), a division of the National Institutes of Applied Research (NIAR), established the NCHC Cloud Compute Center at Tainan Science Park. Officially launched in December 2025, the center operates as a large-scale AI and high-performance computing (HPC) hub alongside an international telecommunications node, expanding Taiwan's national computing, storage, and network capabilities.
With AI and HPC workloads scaling rapidly, power supply, cooling, and energy efficiency have become critical considerations for computing infrastructure. Energy conservation, seismic resilience, and high-standard infrastructure were incorporated into the center's planning from the outset. The facility has earned a Silver rating under Taiwan's EEWH green building evaluation system from the Ministry of the Interior, demonstrating its commitment to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability without compromising performance or reliability.
The center integrates energy-saving measures across its building envelope, cooling systems, electrical systems, lighting, and renewable energy facilities. Exterior wall insulation and reduced window areas minimize heat gain. The cooling systems employ magnetic-bearing chillers, hot- and cold-aisle configurations, and EC fans (Electronically Commutated Fans) to enhance efficiency. High-efficiency transformers, an energy management system, and high-efficiency uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units reduce electrical losses. LED lighting with two-wire control systems and an on-site solar photovoltaic installation further improve overall energy performance.
The center maintains an annual average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) below 1.3—a key metric for data center efficiency where values closer to 1 indicate lower energy consumption from supporting systems like cooling and power distribution. By optimizing these auxiliary systems, the center reduces energy overhead while directing a greater proportion of electricity toward actual computing workloads.
The Silver Green Building Label recognizes NCHC's commitment to balancing the expansion of national computing capacity with energy efficiency and sustainable development. Going forward, NCHC plans to continue improving building energy efficiency, optimizing PUE, and expanding renewable energy deployment to enhance overall energy performance and establish a foundation for more efficient, sustainable data center operations.