Australia's new data centres must be majority renewable powered, says minister

Australia's new data centers will be required to operate primarily on renewable energy sources, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. The minister announced that plans by the Northern Territory to utilize its significant shale gas resources for powering such facilities would contravene proposed national standards.

Bowen's statement casts doubt on the Northern Territory's ambitions to attract multi-billion dollar tech investments through gas-powered data centers. The government's push for renewables aligns with broader national and international efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable energy practices.

The proposed standards signal a clear direction for Australia's burgeoning tech infrastructure, prioritizing environmental sustainability alongside economic growth. This policy aims to ensure that the expansion of data centers contributes positively to the nation's climate targets rather than hindering them.

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plans by the Northern Territory to use its large-scale shale gas resources to power data centres would run counter to proposed national standards