An artist’s impression of the off-river storage reservoir and water treatment plant funded by Google in Malaysia’s Negeri Sembilan state.
Google announced on Nov. 2 that it will provide USD 160 million to develop shared water infrastructure in Malaysia's Negeri Sembilan state, supporting its planned data center operations and expanding local water supply.
The investment will fund an off-river storage reservoir and water treatment plant along the Linggi River. Once operational, the facilities are expected to supply 65 million liters of treated water per day for both Google's upcoming data center campus in Port Dickson and public use.
Water project to support data center operations
Google has appointed Malaysian engineering company Gamuda Berhad to construct the reservoir and treatment plant in coordination with the Negeri Sembilan state government and state water utility Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS).
Upon completion, the facilities will be owned by Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan (Incorporated), a state-owned entity responsible for managing government assets.
The reservoir will collect excess river water and rainfall during periods of high flow, helping reduce flood risks in surrounding areas. Stored water will be treated for domestic and commercial use, while the reservoir will also provide additional supply during drier periods.
The water infrastructure will support Google's planned data center campus at Springhill Industrial Park in Port Dickson.
Google said it will pay for all electricity consumed by the campus and cover the direct infrastructure costs of connecting the facility to the power grid.
Drew Byrnes, Google's Director and Head of Global Infrastructure and Energy for Asia Pacific, said the investment is part of the company's efforts to manage water consumption as it expands its digital infrastructure.
Google has set a global goal to replenish 120% of the freshwater volume it consumes, although the company said its assessment found that local water sources in Negeri Sembilan were not at high risk of scarcity or depletion.
The company said the planned data center will support Google services including Search, Maps and Chrome.
Google expands clean energy and workforce programs
Alongside its data center development, Google is working with renewable energy developers in Malaysia to increase clean electricity supply through power purchase agreements (PPAs).
These include partnerships with consortiums led by Shizen Energy-Solarvest and TotalEnergies to develop additional renewable energy capacity for Malaysia's national grid.
One of the projects is a 29.99-megawatt alternating current (MWac) solar farm in Gurun, Kedah, developed by Solarvest in partnership with Shizen Energy and HSS Engineering under Malaysia's Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP).
Google is also expanding its collaboration with SOLS Foundation to introduce two clean energy education and workforce training programs in Negeri Sembilan from early 2027.
The first, Solar Explorers and Solar Futures, will establish solar energy laboratories in participating public schools. Each laboratory will include a 2.56 kWp solar system and 5.4 kWh of battery storage.
The facilities will support classroom learning on solar energy and provide electricity for schools, including backup power during outages.
The second initiative, Digital Skills for the Renewable Energy Workforce, will introduce a 36-hour training course under the SOLS Solar Academy.
The program will focus on digital skills used in renewable energy jobs, including solar system sizing, load calculations, inverter monitoring and grid performance assessment.
It will target young people from lower-income backgrounds and Indigenous communities, preparing them for jobs in solar installation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure maintenance and energy system operations.
Google said both programs are scheduled to begin in Negeri Sembilan in early 2027, alongside its broader investment in digital infrastructure and renewable energy development in Malaysia.
