Greenpeace report warns AI data centres in Australia are turning to on-site gas plants for power
AI data-centre mega-hubs as large as 350 hectares are being planned across Australia, requiring massive amounts of energy equivalent to an entire coal plant's output. To meet this demand, data centres are partnering with gas companies to build on-site "shadow grids" — gas-fired power plants that directly power the centres while generating significant emissions. The article features Ketan Joshi, climate expert and co-author of a new Greenpeace report, discussing the relationship between fossil fuel companies and the data centre industry driving the AI boom.
Key quotes
Data-centre mega-hubs as large as 350 hectares are being planned across Australia – that's the equivalent of 175 MCG playing fields.
The energy they need to fuel them is just as huge: More than the total output of an entire coal plant.
So-called 'shadow grids' built in partnership between the data centres and big gas, where gas-fired power plants are placed directly on site, powering the centres and generating huge emissions in the process.
From the article
You might also wanna read
Gas-Powered Data Centers for AI Could Emit 129 Million Tons of CO2 Annually, Surpassing Morocco's Emissions
A WIRED investigation reveals that natural gas projects powering just 11 data center campuses in the US—built to serve AI companies like Ope
WIRED·2mo ago
Renewable investors back Australia's data centre boom despite backlash over grid and fossil fuel concerns
Major renewable energy investors are backing Australia's data centre boom, arguing it can be powered by clean energy and support net-zero go
theage.com.au·2h agoRenewable investors back Australia's data centre boom despite backlash over grid and fossil fuel concerns
Major renewable energy investors are backing Australia's data centre boom, arguing it can be powered by clean energy and support net-zero go
The Age·2h ago
As AI Reshapes Global Energy Systems, Melbourne Leads Through Engineering Collaboration
AI researcher argues data centers can be made more sustainable despite energy demands
AI researcher Sasha Luccioni discusses the environmental sustainability challenges of AI data centers, which are massive energy-consuming wa
TIME·5d agoAI researcher argues data centers can be made more sustainable despite energy demands
AI researcher Sasha Luccioni discusses the environmental sustainability challenges of AI data centers, which are massive energy-consuming wa
time.com·5d ago
AI Data Centers Turn to Onsite Power Generation Amid Grid Capacity Crisis
The article analyzes the growing power crisis facing AI data centers and explores onsite power generation solutions as an alternative to tra
newsletter.semianalysis.com·6mo ago
Datacentres are a ticking time bomb. We must make sure AI’s benefits outweigh the costs
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.