Hydro deal sealed for Laguna data center

Singapore-based Digital Edge (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd. has tapped Lopez-led First Gen Corp. to power its NARRA1 data center in Biñan, Laguna, with renewable hydroelectric energy.

Under the agreement signed on Wednesday, First Gen will directly supply electricity sourced from the Pantabangan-Masiway and Casecnan hydroelectric facilities in Nueva Ecija for an initial two years.

“We are proud to operate a world-class data center that meets the growing demand for digital infrastructure while upholding the highest standards of environmental responsibility,” Digital Edge Philippines Country Manager Vic Barrios said.

“By design, NARRA1 is already one of the most energy- and water-efficient data centers in the region. Through our partnership with First Gen, it will now also be powered by renewable hydroelectricity—further strengthening our commitment to sustainable operations,” he added.

NARRA1 is a 10-megawatt (MW) data center developed through a joint venture between Digital Edge and the Threadborne Group. It houses 2,200 cabinets across 12 data halls with 5,200 square meters of colocation space.

It is the first in Southeast Asia to receive EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification, and the first in the Philippines to achieve LEED Gold status for sustainability and efficiency.

For First Gen Chief Customer Engagement Officer Carlo Vega, the growing demand for data centers requires “uninterrupted power with the lowest possible carbon emissions.”

“We look forward to working with Digital Edge as they continue to progress in their decarbonization journey, not just with a supply of reliable, low-emission, and cost-competitive electricity, but solutions that will help optimize their energy usage,” Vega said.

First Gen’s renewable energy portfolio includes nearly 300 MW of hydro power, 160 MW from wind and solar, and nearly 1,200 MW of geothermal capacity through its subsidiary, Energy Development Corp.

The company also operates 2,017 MW of natural gas plants to balance renewable intermittency and support grid stability.