SEAS 2026 Survey: 44% of Respondents Expect Data Centers to Add Pressure on Singapore's Energy Supply and Infrastructure

en.Wedoany.com Reported - A survey released by the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) shows that data center expansion is expected to strain Singapore's energy supply and infrastructure, with 44% of respondents anticipating such impacts to materialize.

In terms of energy storage and the grid, 31% of respondents expect data center growth to drive higher demand for energy storage and grid upgrades, 13% anticipate an expansion in renewable energy production, and only 5% believe it will bring new financing and investment opportunities. At the AI application level, surveyed energy professionals identified data quality and availability, as well as implementation costs, as the main barriers, each cited by 58% of respondents; another 31% listed regulatory uncertainty as an obstacle.

Across Southeast Asia as a whole, 92% of the 100 energy professionals surveyed expect artificial intelligence to play a significant or moderate role in the energy transition over the next five years. Approximately 60% of respondents have launched AI pilot projects or deployed AI solutions, with 24% reporting smooth implementation progress; only 6% currently have no plans to explore AI solutions. SEAS Chairman Edwin Khew stated that AI can support renewable energy operations through output and weather forecasting, demand and grid response, battery storage, microgrids, and predictive maintenance. However, Khew also noted that respondents are aware of limitations in data quality and availability, and that successful AI application to grid and demand management requires real-time visibility through smart meters and sensors, supported by communication and data infrastructure.

The survey shows that 78% of respondents believe the energy transition in Southeast Asia is progressing slower than it should, with geopolitical setbacks cited as one of the reasons; over 70% consider grid infrastructure and regional interconnectivity to be major obstacles. Regarding the ASEAN Power Grid, 24% expect significant cross-border electricity trading to be established in the short term, 61% expect bilateral and subregional agreements to expand, and 15% believe national priorities will continue to outweigh regional integration.

SEAS conducted the "2026 Energy Transition Outlook Survey: How Geopolitics and Artificial Intelligence Are Reshaping Southeast Asia's Energy Landscape" online between July and August 2026, covering 100 energy professionals in Southeast Asia.