Hitachi HVAC Solutions Drive Southeast Asia Data Centre Boom
Hitachi Cooling & Heating, part of the Bosch Home Comfort Group, has unveiled a new generation of centrifugal chillers designed to support high-density data centre builds across Southeast Asia.
The S Series, VG Series and VM Series have been developed to address the region’s accelerating demand for efficient, reliable and sustainable cooling.
The launch comes as operators face constraints on power and water resources, with cooling efficiency becoming a decisive factor in site selection and long-term operational costs.
Chillers built for rapid restart and energy efficiency
A central feature of the new systems is their ability to restart within 35 seconds after a power interruption, reducing downtime in environments where continuous cooling is critical.
Hitachi’s Direct Drive Inverter Technology adjusts cooling output based on load and seasonal conditions, which the company says improves energy efficiency and helps lower operational costs.
All three chiller series use low GWP refrigerants, including R513A, R1233zd and R1234ze, to reduce environmental impact. Anti-surge functionality is built in to support stable operation across varying load conditions commonly seen in multi-tenant and hyperscale facilities.
Tan Kok Choon, Southeast Asia Sales General Manager for Hitachi Cooling & Heating, says: “As Southeast Asia emerges as a global data centre hub, we've received inquiries regarding limited water and electricity resources in the region.
“In response, our high-efficiency chillers feature advanced compressors and heat exchangers to reduce energy consumption.
“For water conservation, especially in coastal areas, we offer condenser options – such as copper-nickel, titanium and stainless-steel tubes – that enable seawater cooling. This minimises freshwater use and avoids reliance on less efficient air-cooled systems, lowering overall electricity consumption.”
Meeting the cooling demands of regional growth
Southeast Asia’s data centre market is expected to continue expanding at pace. The US ASEAN Business Council forecasts a 20% CAGR in demand by 2028, while the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project estimates the market will reach US$11.80bn by 2030. The growth is driving operators to seek cooling systems that can deliver performance, sustainability and resilience in equal measure.
"Our high-efficiency chillers feature advanced compressors and heat exchangers to reduce energy consumption"
Hitachi’s new chillers offer cooling efficiency of up to 13.8 ACCOP, supported by patented motor and compressor technologies designed to reduce power usage and improve thermodynamic performance.
The S Series uses a single compressor architecture up to 3,500RT and integrates two-stage compressors with a Variable Frequency Drive for precise temperature control. This is intended to help facilities optimise PUE while providing predictable cooling under fluctuating IT loads.
Options for 24/7 mission-critical environments
The VG Series is engineered for continuous operation and uses a high-speed motor with a direct two-stage impeller drive.
Hitachi reports a 1.5% improvement in motor efficiency and a 4% improvement in compressor efficiency. The unit can automatically restart within a minute after as many as five voltage drops, a capability aimed at mission-critical data centres in regions where grid stability can vary.
The VM Series introduces an oil-free configuration using magnetic levitation bearings to eliminate friction and minimise component wear. This design aims to reduce maintenance requirements and avoid oil-related failures, which remain a common cause of downtime in traditional chiller systems.
Complementary cooling through VRF systems
For areas of a facility requiring precise humidity or temperature control, such as server rooms or administrative spaces, Hitachi’s VRF systems offer an additional layer of flexibility.
These systems use SmoothDrive technology to improve energy efficiency and provide a range of indoor unit configurations suited to mixed-use data centre campuses.
Deployments in regional data centres
Hitachi says the technology is already being adopted in critical environments. A major US cloud provider expanding in Hong Kong selected the VG Series to support round the clock operations, citing the rapid auto-restart feature as a key factor.
In Indonesia, a Japanese technology firm deployed Hitachi’s Top Flow VRF air365 Max system to provide compact, high-precision cooling with fast restart capability.
The company expects demand for efficient chiller systems to grow alongside the region’s expanding data centre footprint, particularly in markets facing power and water constraints.
