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Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Clean energy finance must keep pace with data centre boom — Nazrul Hazizi Noordin
AUGUST 16 — Malaysia is fast becoming a favoured destination for data centre investors. In just one year, between 2023 and 2024, investments to the sector increased from over US$10 billion (RM42 billion) to three times that amount. Driving the surge are international heavyweights. Microsoft is set to launch its first cloud region in Malaysia by mid-year, featuring three hyperscale data centres across Klang Valley and Johor, backed by a US$2.2 billion investment. Google, through Gamuda, is constructing a similar facility in Port Dickson, supported by a RM1 billion contract. Just last month, Alibaba Cloud unveiled its third Malaysian data centre. Thanks to this influx of capital, Malaysia is now the fastest-growing data centre market in Asia Pacific. Already the eighth-largest market by operational capacity in the region, and fourteenth globally, it could break into the global top ten within the next five to seven years. But behind this progress lies a looming challenge: a soaring energy demand. These data centres could soon account for as much as 30 per cent of the country's electricity use. While projections vary, experts warn that by 2035 their peak demand could swell to over 5,000 megawatts (MW). To put this into perspective, that is roughly equivalent to Singapore's total electricity consumption in 2023, or the output of five large coal plants, or enough to power 3.5 to 4 million average Malaysian homes for a year. That is a massive load for just one sector, placing immense strain on the national grid. While political actors often point to job creation and economic spillovers, the environmental costs payable by future generations yet to come are sobering. With 81 per cent of Malaysia's electricity in 2024 still generated from fossil fuels, meeting this new demand risks deepening dependence on carbon-intensive sources. At 5,000 MW, the sector could emit around 26 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, tantamount to adding 5.7 million petrol cars to the roads (more than a quarter of existing registered cars). Offsetting that footprint would require the carbon sequestration capacity of approximately 31 million hectares of forest in a year (almost the size of Malaysia's entire land area) or planting about 430 million tree seedlings and growing them for a decade. This is not a call for slowing digital development. Rather, the pace of investment in energy efficiency and clean energy must at least match, or ideally exceed, the sector's growth. Yet progress on both fronts remains far from adequate. By 2030, data centre utilisation density is projected to improve, from serving over 60,000 people per MW today to about 14,000 per MW. But this 80 per cent leap will still be easily outstripped by overall consumption growth. On the renewable side, the gap is even starker. The 5,000 MW of peak capacity data centres may require at a single point in time is equivalent to only half of Malaysia's total renewable energy output for the whole of 2023. This great shortfall is echoed at individual sites. AirTrunk's hyperscale facility in Johor, for example, has a solar-ready roof generating just 1 MW, barely 2 per cent of the energy needed for its current phase. The banking sector holds the keys to shifting this trajectory. That begins with rethinking their own lending philosophy. Financing efficiency and renewables can no longer be treated as a nice-to-have line item in their portfolios. It must rather be seen as a moral obligation. Because if it is treated as a matter of choice, it would never have been thought that there is anything inherently wrong with pouring money into 'dirty' energy production. This is not simply about doing the right thing for the planet. It is also about preserving their own existence. Factoring climate-related risks into stress testing and scenario analysis would likely paint a picture that their stranded assets are mounting as green technology becomes cheaper, regulations get tighter, and consumer climate consciousness spreads faster. At the end of the day, climate risk is financial risk. By 2030, data centre utilisation density is projected to improve, from serving over 60,000 people per MW today to about 14,000 per MW. — AFP pic Willingness alone, however, is not enough. Banks need innovative instruments that can move capital decisively. Two merit closer attention. At the consumption end, sustainability-linked financing (SLF) offers greater flexibility than traditional green loans, which restrict use of proceeds to environmental projects. SLF instead allows funding for general corporate purposes but ties pricing and terms to meeting predefined sustainability performance targets. For data centre operators, these could include improved power usage effectiveness, increased renewable energy procurement, on-site solar installation, or lower carbon emissions per megawatt-hour consumed. Meeting those targets triggers lower financing costs, nudging them to reduce fossil fuel reliance. On the supply side, the concept of debt-for-nature swaps, traditionally used in the sovereign debt space, could be adapted for corporate debtors, particularly energy companies seeking to pivot from fossil fuels. Under such a structure, debt is forgiven or repurchased at a discount by private investors, development banks, government agencies or philanthropic funds, in exchange for the company committing to redirect the freed-up amount into renewable projects. Though not yet mainstream, this approach presents a promising pathway for aligning corporate debt management with climate goals while building long-term energy resilience. Malaysia's rise as a regional data centre hub is inevitable. But without aligning its digital growth with clean energy finance, the country risks locking itself into a high-carbon future just as the world moves the other way. Investors and lenders must channel capital towards energy efficiency and renewables with the same urgency that is powering data centre expansion. Seizing this moment will speak volumes about their commitment to reaching net zero. * Dr Nazrul Hazizi Noordin is an assistant professor at the Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, International Islamic University Malaysia. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
Mid East Info
11-08-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Alibaba Cloud Collaborates with University of Birmingham Dubai to Enhance Digital Skills Across the MEA Region
Inaugural Internship Programme in the UAE Region Aimed at Advancing Digital Innovation and Developing Industry-Ready Talent Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 2025 — Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced a collaboration with the University of Birmingham Dubai through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The partnership will introduce advanced curriculum in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) for students and educators at the University of Birmingham Dubai campus. As part of this initiative, Alibaba Cloud also launched its first internship programme in the UAE region, with the University of Birmingham in Dubai being the pioneer university for the program. Through this collaboration, students and faculty from the University of Birmingham Dubai will gain deeper insights into cloud and AI technologies by participating in advanced technology workshops, extensive training sessions available both online and offline, and various certification courses provided by Alibaba Cloud. Additionally, Alibaba Cloud introduced its 'Future Star' internship initiative in the United Arab Emirates, with the University of Birmingham Dubai as its inaugural academic partner. This programme offers a vibrant platform for talent development, delivering interns comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and exclusive mentorship spanning three to six months. Designed to provide a thorough understanding of multiple roles within Alibaba Cloud, 'Future Star' ensures that interns are well-equipped to contribute effectively to the cloud computing industry in the digital age. ''We are thrilled to partner with the University of Birmingham Dubai to nurture the next-generation digital skills in the region. The University of Birmingham Dubai, renowned for its dedication to research and education in technology and digital fields, brings a wealth of expertise and visionary thinking to the collaboration. Through this partnership, we are committed to equipping their students and faculties to acquire crucial digital insights, allowing them to engage more deeply with cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. Together, we are poised to unlock numerous opportunities in our rapidly digitalizing world, ensuring that students, educators, and industry professionals alike can thrive in the evolving digital landscape.' said Eric Wan, General Manager of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. Professor Yusra Mouzughi, Provost of the University of Birmingham Dubai, said: 'We are proud to partner with Alibaba Cloud to provide our students with direct access to real-world learning experiences and cutting-edge technologies in cloud computing and AI. This collaboration reflects our commitment to equipping future graduates with the digital skills and global industry exposure needed to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world. The internship and academic enrichment opportunities offered through this partnership will play a pivotal role in shaping industry-ready talent from our campus here in Dubai to join leading institutions globally.' The freshly inked partnership is yet another demonstration of Alibaba Cloud's long-term commitment to creating a sustainable pool of digital talent for the Middle East region. Alibaba Cloud has been a leading provider of cloud services to local private companies and public institutions in the UAE and the wider Middle East region since 2016. It has a robust local ecosystem in the MEA region with partners covering banking, financial services and insurance, media, public sectors, and customers locally across different sectors. About Alibaba Cloud: Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud ( is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) services. Alibaba has been named the leading IaaS provider in Asia Pacific by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner. It has also maintained its position as one of the world's leading public cloud IaaS service providers since 2018, according to IDC. About University of Birmingham Dubai: The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries. The University of Birmingham was established by Queen Victoria in 1900 as Great Britain's first civic university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. The University is renowned for its research excellence and its researchers have received 10 Nobel Prizes. From pioneering organ transplants, discovering gravitational waves and furthering understanding of Shakespeare, to developing cures for cancer, advances in robotics and revealing the structure of DNA, the University has been at the forefront of some of the most ground-breaking discoveries of the last 100 years. The University of Birmingham Dubai opened a purpose-built campus in Dubai International Academic City in 2022, which demonstrates the University of Birmingham's long-term commitment to contributing to UAE society – through in-country partnership in education and areas of research strength that support the National Agenda.
Zawya
11-08-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Alibaba Cloud collaborates with University of Birmingham Dubai to enhance digital skills across the MEA region
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced a collaboration with the University of Birmingham Dubai through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The partnership will introduce advanced curriculum in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) for students and educators at the University of Birmingham Dubai campus. As part of this initiative, Alibaba Cloud also launched its first internship programme in the UAE region, with the University of Birmingham in Dubai being the pioneer university for the program. Through this collaboration, students and faculty from the University of Birmingham Dubai will gain deeper insights into cloud and AI technologies by participating in advanced technology workshops, extensive training sessions available both online and offline, and various certification courses provided by Alibaba Cloud. Additionally, Alibaba Cloud introduced its "Future Star" internship initiative in the United Arab Emirates, with the University of Birmingham Dubai as its inaugural academic partner. This programme offers a vibrant platform for talent development, delivering interns comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and exclusive mentorship spanning three to six months. Designed to provide a thorough understanding of multiple roles within Alibaba Cloud, "Future Star" ensures that interns are well-equipped to contribute effectively to the cloud computing industry in the digital age. '"We are thrilled to partner with the University of Birmingham Dubai to nurture the next-generation digital skills in the region. The University of Birmingham Dubai, renowned for its dedication to research and education in technology and digital fields, brings a wealth of expertise and visionary thinking to the collaboration. Through this partnership, we are committed to equipping their students and faculties to acquire crucial digital insights, allowing them to engage more deeply with cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. Together, we are poised to unlock numerous opportunities in our rapidly digitalizing world, ensuring that students, educators, and industry professionals alike can thrive in the evolving digital landscape.' said Eric Wan, General Manager of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. Professor Yusra Mouzughi, Provost of the University of Birmingham Dubai, said: 'We are proud to partner with Alibaba Cloud to provide our students with direct access to real-world learning experiences and cutting-edge technologies in cloud computing and AI. This collaboration reflects our commitment to equipping future graduates with the digital skills and global industry exposure needed to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world. The internship and academic enrichment opportunities offered through this partnership will play a pivotal role in shaping industry-ready talent from our campus here in Dubai to join leading institutions globally." The freshly inked partnership is yet another demonstration of Alibaba Cloud's long-term commitment to creating a sustainable pool of digital talent for the Middle East region. Alibaba Cloud has been a leading provider of cloud services to local private companies and public institutions in the UAE and the wider Middle East region since 2016. It has a robust local ecosystem in the MEA region with partners covering banking, financial services and insurance, media, public sectors, and customers locally across different sectors. About Alibaba Cloud Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud ( is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, big data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) services. Alibaba has been named the leading IaaS provider in Asia Pacific by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner. It has also maintained its position as one of the world's leading public cloud IaaS service providers since 2018, according to IDC. About University of Birmingham Dubai The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries. The University of Birmingham was established by Queen Victoria in 1900 as Great Britain's first civic university, where students from all religions and backgrounds were accepted on an equal basis. The University is renowned for its research excellence and its researchers have received 10 Nobel Prizes. From pioneering organ transplants, discovering gravitational waves and furthering understanding of Shakespeare, to developing cures for cancer, advances in robotics and revealing the structure of DNA, the University has been at the forefront of some of the most ground-breaking discoveries of the last 100 years. The University of Birmingham Dubai opened a purpose-built campus in Dubai International Academic City in 2022, which demonstrates the University of Birmingham's long-term commitment to contributing to UAE society – through in-country partnership in education and areas of research strength that support the National Agenda.
Al Bawaba
11-08-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Alibaba Cloud Collaborates with University of Birmingham Dubai to Enhance Digital Skills Across the MEA Region
Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced a collaboration with the University of Birmingham Dubai through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The partnership will introduce advanced curriculum in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) for students and educators at the University of Birmingham Dubai campus. As part of this initiative, Alibaba Cloud also launched its first internship programme in the UAE region, with the University of Birmingham in Dubai being the pioneer university for the this collaboration, students and faculty from the University of Birmingham Dubai will gain deeper insights into cloud and AI technologies by participating in advanced technology workshops, extensive training sessions available both online and offline, and various certification courses provided by Alibaba Alibaba Cloud introduced its "Future Star" internship initiative in the United Arab Emirates, with the University of Birmingham Dubai as its inaugural academic partner. This programme offers a vibrant platform for talent development, delivering interns comprehensive training, hands-on experience, and exclusive mentorship spanning three to six months. Designed to provide a thorough understanding of multiple roles within Alibaba Cloud, "Future Star" ensures that interns are well-equipped to contribute effectively to the cloud computing industry in the digital age."We are thrilled to partner with the University of Birmingham Dubai to nurture the next-generation digital skills in the region. The University of Birmingham Dubai, renowned for its dedication to research and education in technology and digital fields, brings a wealth of expertise and visionary thinking to the collaboration. Through this partnership, we are committed to equipping their students and faculties to acquire crucial digital insights, allowing them to engage more deeply with cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. Together, we are poised to unlock numerous opportunities in our rapidly digitalizing world, ensuring that students, educators, and industry professionals alike can thrive in the evolving digital landscape.' said Eric Wan, General Manager of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, Alibaba Cloud Yusra Mouzughi, Provost of the University of Birmingham Dubai, said: 'We are proud to partner with Alibaba Cloud to provide our students with direct access to real-world learning experiences and cutting-edge technologies in cloud computing and AI. This collaboration reflects our commitment to equipping future graduates with the digital skills and global industry exposure needed to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world. The internship and academic enrichment opportunities offered through this partnership will play a pivotal role in shaping industry-ready talent from our campus here in Dubai to join leading institutions globally." The freshly inked partnership is yet another demonstration of Alibaba Cloud's long-term commitment to creating a sustainable pool of digital talent for the Middle East region. Alibaba Cloud has been a leading provider of cloud services to local private companies and public institutions in the UAE and the wider Middle East region since 2016. It has a robust local ecosystem in the MEA region with partners covering banking, financial services and insurance, media, public sectors, and customers locally across different sectors. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Time Business News
09-08-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Exact ACA-Operator Exam Dumps Best Way to Pass All Exams
Preparing for the Alibaba Cloud Certified Associate – ACA-Operator certification? You're not alone. Many IT professionals and cloud enthusiasts around the globe are looking to boost their credentials and gain recognition by passing the ACA-Operator exam. But success in this exam requires more than just studying – it requires smart preparation with the right resources. That's where CertsQuestions comes in with its exact ACA-Operator exam dumps that offer everything you need to pass on your first try. Let's explore why these ACA-Operator dumps are your shortcut to success and how they can accelerate your Alibaba Cloud career in 2025. The Alibaba Cloud ACA-Operator certification is a foundational-level exam for individuals seeking a career in cloud operations. This certification verifies your ability to manage, monitor, and troubleshoot Alibaba Cloud infrastructure efficiently. It's ideal for system administrators, DevOps professionals, and cloud support engineers. With the growing demand for Alibaba Cloud services in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, ACA-Operator is becoming a valuable credential for IT professionals who want to work with cutting-edge cloud technologies. Passing the exam opens up new opportunities and validates your practical knowledge in real-world cloud operations. Studying randomly from Alibaba documentation or online tutorials might not be enough. The real secret to passing the ACA-Operator exam lies in targeted preparation using actual exam-style questions and answers. This is exactly what CertsQuestions offers with their ACA-Operator PDF exam dumps. These dumps are created by certified experts who know the exam format and content very well. You get access to: Latest real-world ACA-Operator questions with accurate answers with accurate answers Updated content according to the 2025 Alibaba exam objectives Practice in PDF format for mobile, desktop, or tablet use Unlimited access to updates if the exam changes In short, CertsQuestions helps you study smarter not harder. Unlike many websites offering outdated or irrelevant dumps, provides exam material that is genuinely updated and verified by professionals. The ACA-Operator dumps are curated through careful research, including input from successful candidates and cloud experts. Every question included in the PDF is selected based on its: Relevance to the actual exam Importance in Alibaba Cloud real-world use cases Potential to appear in upcoming ACA-Operator exams This makes the dumps extremely reliable for exam readiness and hands-on learning. The best part about CertsQuestions' ACA-Operator dumps is that they don't just feed you answers they train your brain to think like an examiner. With repeated practice using these dumps, you'll: Understand question patterns Learn time management during the exam Sharpen your technical knowledge Identify weak areas and improve them Think of it as a simulated real exam where you can fail, learn, and repeat until you're 100% confident to appear for the actual test. To make your journey even easier, here are the direct links for your preparation: Everything is organized, accessible, and beginner-friendly. You don't need to waste time browsing multiple sites. CertsQuestions is your one-stop solution. When it comes to Alibaba certification preparation, CertsQuestions stands out for its quality, transparency, and results. Here's why candidates prefer it: Safe and Secure Download Free Demo Before Purchase Mobile-Friendly PDF Format Free Updates for 90 Days 24/7 Customer Support Whether you're a beginner or an experienced professional, CertsQuestions gives you an edge over others with accurate and trusted ACA-Operator dumps. If you're serious about passing the ACA-Operator exam in 2025 and building a career in Alibaba Cloud operations, don't take chances with outdated materials. Trust CertsQuestions to provide you with precise ACA-Operator exam dumps that mirror the real exam content. With dedication, the right study plan, and CertsQuestions by your side, you'll crack the ACA-Operator exam on your first attempt and step confidently into your cloud future. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
