Jakarta, INTI - Chinese renewable energy company GCL Energy Technology (GCL ET) is exploring opportunities to develop artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in Indonesia as part of its broader expansion strategy across Southeast Asia.
According to Fanzhong Zeng, Head of the Strategic Development Center at GCL Energy Technology, Southeast Asia has become a key region for the company’s international AI data center ambitions, with Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand identified as priority markets.
Zeng said Indonesia has attracted significant interest due to its proximity to Singapore, rapidly expanding digital economy, and abundant energy resources capable of supporting large-scale AI infrastructure.
He explained that Singapore’s position as Asia’s leading digital infrastructure and data center hub has encouraged companies to expand into neighboring countries, where land availability and electricity capacity offer greater opportunities for future growth.
Headquartered in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, GCL ET is actively evaluating AI data center projects in both Malaysia and Indonesia in collaboration with local partners to accelerate regional digital infrastructure development.
According to Zeng, developing AI data centers is not solely about increasing computing capacity but also about ensuring access to reliable, sustainable, and energy-efficient power sources.
He emphasized that each market has unique energy structures, customer requirements, and industrial ecosystems, making localized partnerships essential rather than replicating a single business model across different countries.
Integrating Renewable Energy with AI Computing
To support AI infrastructure, GCL ET has developed an integrated solution that combines wind power, solar energy, energy storage systems, gas-fired power generation, and high-performance computing infrastructure into a unified platform.
This integrated approach is designed to address one of the biggest challenges facing AI data centers,providing sufficient power in regions where electricity grids may not yet be capable of supporting rapidly growing computing demand.
As global AI adoption continues to accelerate, Zeng noted that the relationship between energy and computing has become increasingly interconnected.
"The current AI wave aligns perfectly with our strategy of integrating energy and computing power," he said.
GCL ET’s strategy is built around two complementary approaches. The first, "Powering Computing," leverages the company's expertise in power generation, energy management, and electricity trading to deliver affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy solutions for AI data centers.
The second, "Empowering Energy with AI," applies artificial intelligence to optimize the energy sector itself, including renewable energy operations, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, electricity trading systems, and smart energy load management.
By combining these two strategies, the company aims to establish a fully integrated ecosystem connecting clean energy with advanced computing infrastructure.
Since 2023, GCL ET has invested approximately RMB 800 million (around US$110 million) in computing services, including AI infrastructure powered by NVIDIA A800 and H800 systems.
Originally recognized as an energy investment and services company, GCL ET is now transforming into a technology-driven enterprise that integrates renewable energy, AI computing, and electricity trading into a unified business model.
Conclusion
GCL Energy Technology’s interest in developing AI data centers in Indonesia reflects the country's growing importance as a regional digital infrastructure hub. By combining renewable energy with advanced computing technologies, the company aims to support the rising demand for AI while promoting a more sustainable and resilient data center ecosystem across Southeast Asia.
Read more: Government Eyes Bitung as Indonesia's Next Data Center Investment Hub