MITI’s guideline sets proposed design PUE targets for data centres applying for the DESAC incentive: 1.4 for hyperscale (132 kV and above, over 21.25 MW), 1.6 for purpose-built colocation built after 2020, and 1.7 for others from 0.85 to under 21.25 MW (MITI). They are design targets for incentive applicants, not operating limits or general law.
The guideline recommends a design WUE of 2.2 m³ per MWh and computes CUE with the 2021 grid factor of 0.758 (MITI); the current Peninsular factor is 0.740 (2024 provisional) (Energy Commission). Johor separately allows a WUE of 1.8, unit not published (w.media).
- 1.4 PUE
- Hyperscale design target (MITI)
- 1.7 PUE
- Target for other data centres, 0.85 to under 21.25 MW (MITI)
- 2.2 m³/MWh
- Recommended design WUE (MITI)
What PUE does MITI’s guideline require, and is it mandatory?
| Category | Size | Design PUE target |
|---|---|---|
| Hyperscale | 132 kV and above, over 21.25 MW | 1.4 |
| Purpose-built colocation | Built after 2020 | 1.6 |
| Others | 0.85 to under 21.25 MW | 1.7 |
Source: MITI guideline.
Not as a general law. The targets are proposed design values for DESAC incentive applicants (MITI) (MIDA). A data centre that does not apply for DESAC is not bound by them, although EECA 2024 separately requires large energy users to report and manage energy (see EECA 2024). Check with MITI whether a size band is set by IT load or total load.
What is PUE, and how is it calculated?
Power usage effectiveness is total facility energy divided by IT equipment energy. A PUE of 1.7 means 0.7 kWh of cooling and other overhead for every kWh the servers use. Worked example for a 20 MW hall at 70% load: IT energy 122,640 MWh a year; facility energy 208,488 MWh; PUE = 208,488 ÷ 122,640 = 1.7.
What are WUE and CUE?
WUE is site water used divided by IT energy. MITI recommends 2.2 m³/MWh at design, the same number as 2.2 L/kWh; actual WUE is disclosed yearly (MITI). CUE is carbon per unit of IT energy: grid emission factor × PUE.
| PUE | CUE at 0.758 (guideline, 2021) | CUE at 0.740 (2024 provisional) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4 | 1.061 | 1.036 |
| 1.6 | 1.213 | 1.184 |
| 1.7 | 1.289 | 1.258 |
Factors: MITI guideline (0.758); Energy Commission (0.740). Peninsular grid.
How do Johor’s rules interact with MITI’s guideline?
They stack. MITI’s values are national design targets for incentive applicants; Johor’s are state conditions on water approval. Johor allows a WUE of 1.8 (w.media), stricter than MITI’s 2.2 if it is in the same unit, and since 10 March 2026 considers only Tier 3 and Tier 4 air-cooled designs (Malay Mail). More on the water page.
What do the targets mean for 5, 20 and 50 MW halls?
| IT load | Design PUE band | IT energy / yr | Facility energy / yr | Water at WUE 2.2 | CO₂e / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 MW | 1.7 | 30,660 MWh | 52,122 MWh | 67,452 m³ | 38,570 t |
| 20 MW | 1.7 | 122,640 MWh | 208,488 MWh | 269,808 m³ | 154,281 t |
| 50 MW | 1.4 | 306,600 MWh | 429,240 MWh | 674,520 m³ | 317,638 t |
70% average load; CO₂e at 0.740 kg/kWh on facility energy. The 20 MW hall sits in the 1.7 band because it is under 21.25 MW.
What can’t PUE show?
PUE measures overhead, not output. Two halls with the same PUE can produce very different amounts of AI work per MWh, depending on load and workload mix. Our method paper proposes adding answers or tokens per MWh as the production variable, so output per allocated megawatt can be measured.
What is not public
We could not confirm these from a published source as of 10 November 2026. Do not assume them:
- Measured PUE or WUE for named Malaysian sites
- Whether MITI’s size bands use IT load or total load
- The unit of Johor’s WUE 1.8
Croutons Research publishes open data and methods on AI data centres in Malaysia. See the open method for measuring AI work per megawatt.
Sources
- w.media, how Johor deals with thirsty data centres
- Malay Mail, Johor refuses high-water designs (10 Mar 2026)
- Energy Commission, grid emission factors 2022–2024 (provisional)
- MITI, Guidelines for Sustainable Development of Data Centres (PDF)
- MIDA, DESAC guideline (PDF, Dec 2024)
Last checked 10 November 2026