PodChats for FutureCOO: Ensuring DC sustainability and regulatory alignment in 2026

Data centre COOs in Southeast Asia face a dual challenge in 2026: managing rapid AI-driven growth while ensuring sustainability and regulatory compliance. 

Key challenges include strained local grids unable to meet intense power demands from densified AI workloads, increasing public opposition due to environmental concerns, and complex, uneven regional regulations. 

COOs must navigate costly infrastructure upgrades, such as adopting medium-voltage power distribution and integrating innovative power architectures like solid-state transformers to improve efficiency and reduce losses.

The good news is, COOs who balance technological innovation with stakeholder collaboration will transform their operations, achieve aligned sustainability objectives while supporting the digital economy’s growth in an increasingly regulated environment.

In this PodChats for FutureCOO, Daniel Pointon, group CTO for STT GDC, shares his perspective on How to Achieve Data Centre Sustainability and Regulatory Alignment in 2026 from the perspective of the COO.

1.       Perhaps to start off, give us a short brief of the business of STT GDC.

2.       In 2025, give us a brief around the state of DC operations in Southeast Asia? (13 Gigawatts)

3.       How will AI workload growth influence energy consumption and infrastructure needs?

4.       How are data centre operations taking national sustainability initiatives? 

5.       How do you see Asia regional regulations on carbon emissions impacting data centre operations?

6.       What new technologies can improve both sustainability and compliance affordably?

7.       For 2026, any advice for how COOs can integrate sustainability goals with business growth targets effectively?

8.       Identify 3 best practices for engaging stakeholders to secure public and regulatory support?