Data centres to consume nearly as much power as every home in NSW and Victoria by 2036
The Australian Energy Market Operator forecasts that data center power consumption will surge to 13% of the grid's capacity by 2036. This rapid growth is driven by the expansion of digital infrastructure, necessitating new energy regulations.
Why it matters
The massive energy requirements of data centers pose a significant challenge to national power grids and climate goals as digital infrastructure expands.
The Australian Energy Market Operator says data centres are rapidly becoming a major source of power demand, revising up its expectations from a year ago. ( Unsplash : Matthew Henry /CC licence )
Data centres are expected to draw as much power from the grid by 2036 as all homes in NSW and Victoria do today, the energy market operator has forecast.
The energy market operator says the number of data centres in development since last year has more than doubled from 97 to 225.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will detail more of his proposed energy rules for data centres at a Business Council dinner today, with the rules expected to be settled at national cabinet on Wednesday.
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