Data centres are already humming away in the ACT and there could be more coming

Canberra currently hosts over a dozen data centres, with additional developments proposed in Beard and possibly Hume. Chief Minister Andrew Barr asserts that the ACT's standards will likely meet or surpass upcoming national rules. The national data centre standards are set to be enacted early next year. While many may not have noticed these facilities, they are located across industrial estates in Canberra and in suburban areas, such as Bruce.

These centers house substantial amounts of data and are increasingly incorporating AI technology. The ACT government estimates there are already 15 data centres in the region, with proposals for a new one in Beard and a possible extension to another in Hume. CDC Data Centres operates eight data centres across four campuses in the ACT, employing around 250 individuals.

Their CEO, Greg Boorer, established the first data centre in Canberra in 2007. Boorer highlights Canberra's cool climate, proximity to the federal government, and 100% renewable energy sources as factors making it an ideal location for data centres. He notes that the city remains cool even in winter, with pleasant evenings due to its altitude.

The data centres in Beard, under construction, will have a capacity of 40 megawatts (MW), significantly surpassing the ACT's highest recorded peak electricity demand last year of 732 MW. Data centres traditionally consume vast amounts of water for cooling, placing pressure on local supplies. However, protests against data centres in the ACT have been relatively quiet, attributed to the use of closed-loop cooling systems and investments in renewable energy.

Boorer emphasizes that the ACT has a consistent set of planning laws and standards for the industry, operating within a sophisticated and mature national energy market. The federal government recently announced that future large-scale AI data centres could face mandatory requirements, including water use minimization, underwriting new electricity generation, and paying for grid connections.

Chief Minister Barr states that the ACT's policies and practices already align with the prime minister's intent for national standards and oversight for AI, which would not create new benchmarks exceeding current regulations.