Data centre gas plant could be mothballed after two years, court told
Developers behind a proposed $23 million gas-powered power plant required for a data centre have told a court they want the project to be powered by the grid as soon as possible.
A $23 million gas power plant and battery storage system proposed for a data centre campus in the Southern Highlands, NSW, could be mothballed after two years, a court has heard. Developers Nakar Property are appealing a refusal by Wingecarribee Shire Council to grant their development application. The power plant, which would be used to provide constant energy for the proposed data centre campus, is intended to be replaced with cheaper grid-supplied energy once it becomes available.
According to Nakar Property's barrister James Smith, the plant would save the company approximately $14 million per year by connecting to the grid. However, expert witnesses for Wingecarribee Shire Council argue that the grid connection has not been thoroughly investigated, and the project does not have secure power supply for the data centre during the two-year period before a nearby power substation upgrade is completed.
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