<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/dont-let-the-data-centre-gold-rush-become-an-excuse-to-pollute/>
"Australia should embrace the data-centre boom, but not at any climate cost.
Artificial intelligence and cloud computing will drive enormous investment over
the next two decades and Australia has obvious advantages. Better that we
develop them properly than reproduce the regulatory failures emerging
elsewhere.
That is the logic behind the approach supported by the Commonwealth and most
states and territories at the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council in
July. Large data centres would be required to underwrite additional renewable
generation, provide adequate firming and demand flexibility, and bear the costs
attributable to their connection.
Data centres are not ordinary electricity users. Their demand is vast,
concentrated and continuous. AEMO forecasts data-centre consumption in the NEM
could reach about 34 TWh by 2050, around 12 per cent of forecast grid-supplied
electricity. Large data centres will become NEM market participants,
effectively small and medium-sized power stations.
The climate consequence is obvious. New demand of that scale cannot cannibalise
existing clean generation while the rest of the economy is required to
decarbonise. It must bring new low-emissions supply with it.
Handled properly, this is a considerable opportunity. The world’s largest
technology companies are highly creditworthy electricity buyers. Long-term
contracts can support new renewable generation, storage and firming. The AI
boom could help finance the energy transition rather than obstruct it.
But only if governments do not weaken the rules to win projects. That is why
the opposition of Queensland and the Northern Territory is so short-sighted.
Queensland’s objections amount in part to the usual ‘we’re Queensland’
argument. Yet climate change is not a states’ rights issue. Australia cannot
credibly pursue a national emissions target while jurisdictions compete for new
industrial loads by lowering climate standards at the behest of the fossil-fuel
lobby.
The Northern Territory position is harder to justify still."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
