Sustainable Biz #8 - Magazine - Page 28
Rolls-Royce Publishes Position Paper
with Microsoft on the Use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for the
Singapore Data Centre sector
R
olls-Royce’s Power Systems division
has released a position paper with
Microsoft highlighting the potential
of Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as
a sustainable transitional fuel for backup
power in data centres in Singapore.
The paper outlines the opportunities
and regulatory conditions necessary to
establish HVO and other low-carbon fuels
as alternatives to fossil diesel in critical
digital infrastructure.HVO is a high-quality
bio-based paraffinic fuel produced from
waste, residual fats and oils, which can
reduce lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 90%
compared to fossil diesel and is compatible
with existing diesel generator infrastructure
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without technical modifications, provided
the systems are approved for HVO use.
For data centres, this provides a practical
and immediately deployable solution to
decarbonise backup power. It furthermore
aligns with Singapore‘s Green Data centre
Roadmap (GDCR) and its longer term 2050
net-zero targets.
The position paper identifies priorities
to enable full HVO adoption, including
harmonisation of standards, ensuring
cost competitiveness, streamlining
regulatory approvals, strengthening market
development and partnerships across the
supply chain, and continuing to drive
research and innovation.
S U S TA I N A B L E B I Z M A G A Z I N E
OCTOBER 2025
“We believe that Singapore is wellpositioned to lead the adoption of
HVO with the right policy framework,
infrastructure and support.” said Tobias
Ostermaier, President Stationary Power
Solutions at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.
“HVO is a practical step to decarbonise
critical infrastructure and provides an
immediately deployable lever to reduce
emissions for the potential-rich data
centre sector. What’s needed now is a clear
regulatory framework to support the use
of sustainable fuels like HVO, which will
enable planning certainty and investment
confidence.”
Giovanni Spadaro, President, Global
