Australia's new data centres must be majority renewable powered, says minister
Bowen said data centres must fund new renewable generation and transmission as part of a federal plan to protect grid reliability and household bills.
- On Wednesday, Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced federal plans to mandate that new data centers fully offset electricity use with renewable energy, overriding opposition from regional administrations.
- Describing data centers as energy consumption "whales," Bowen outlined regulations based on a "causer pays" principle to ensure corporations fund grid upgrades rather than households.
- Queensland Energy Minister David Janetzki and the Northern Territory government split with the federal plan, with Janetzki criticizing it as "underdeveloped ideas that hand increased power to Canberra."
- The government formally requested the Australian Energy Market Commission make rule changes forcing data centers to fund infrastructure, while a "guarantee of origin scheme" will verify renewable investments.
- Bowen warned he will use Commonwealth legislation to ensure energy reliability, preventing a "race to the bottom" among states that could undermine national 2035 carbon emission targets.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Data centres must fully offset power with renewables: Bowen
Image: Iryna/stock.adobe.comUnder the Federal Government’s AI framework, data centres will be required to buy certificates to offset their power use with renewables. The post Data centres must fully offset power with renewables: Bowen appeared first on Energy Magazine.
New tax on cars in Australia on the way
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy has confirmed a road user charge is coming, saying no electric vehicle companies are opposed to it. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen. Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images. Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, has confirmed that a road user charge is coming, telling media that no one in the electric vehicle industry has ever told him they are opposed to the …
Labor to Push Ahead with Data Centre Rules Despite State Opposition
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has said the federal Labor government will press ahead with national data centre rules despite opposition from Queensland and the Northern Territory. The comments were made during a question-and-answer session following Bowen’s address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Aug. 5. Late last month, the Queensland and Northern Territory (NT) governments rejected elements of the federal government’s prop…
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