澳大利亚能源与气候变化部长理事会已就防止数据中心推高电力价格的新规达成共识[1]。除昆士兰州和北领地外，所有州和地区都同意要求大型数据中心投资额外可再生能源发电以抵消其电力需求[1]。根据政府的监管蓝图，新建大型数据中心必须提供至少相当于其消耗量的能源回馈电网[2]。国家层面的规则预计将在9月审议，随后政府计划于明年初立法实施这一强制性监管规定[1][2]。
可再生能源应在数据中心附近生成，除非地方当局选择退出[1]。虽然国家规则将统一设定，但各州和领地可增加额外要求[1]。这一举措的背景是澳大利亚约160个运营数据中心的规模，且根据麦肯锡分析，人工智能数据中心将占2025至2030年数据中心需求的70%[2]。
对于该方案，不同利益相关方持有不同立场。数据中心澳大利亚首席执行官贝琳达·丹内特表示，一刀切的方法将不起作用，可能适得其反[1]，但她同时指出现有运营数据中心已经用可再生能源项目抵消70%的能源使用[2]。气候委员会首席执行官阿曼达·麦凯锐则主张应给予严格截止期限[1]。此外，政治层面围绕能源政策展开了辩论——昆士兰州和北领地拒绝支持国家强制可再生能源标准[2]，而反对党则推动解除核能禁令以支持数据中心发展[2]。能源部长克里斯·鲍恩表示，核能不是澳大利亚的答案[2]。政府目标是到2030年实现82%的电力由可再生能源生成[2]。
Australia's energy and climate change ministers have agreed to implement new regulations requiring large data centres to invest in renewable energy generation to offset their power consumption to prevent rising electricity prices.[1] The mandatory framework stipulates that new AI data centres must provide energy equivalent to at least their own consumption back to the grid.[2] All states and territories except Queensland and the Northern Territory endorsed the plan, which calls for renewable energy to be generated near data centre facilities unless local authorities opt out.[1] National rules will be established at the federal level, though states and territories may impose additional requirements.[1] These regulatory changes are set to be considered in September, with legislation planned for early next year to enforce the mandatory standards.[1][2]
The proposal has sparked significant political debate over Australia's energy future. Queensland and the Northern Territory have refused to support the national standard requiring renewable energy, while the opposition has pushed to lift Australia's nuclear power ban—in place since the late 1990s—to support data centre development.[2] Energy Minister Chris Bowen has stated that "nuclear energy is not the answer for Australia."[2] Google signed an agreement with Kairos Power in 2024 to purchase small modular reactor electricity, with the first reactors expected to come online in 2030.[2] The government aims for 82 percent of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.[2]
Industry representatives have expressed conflicting views on the approach. Data Centres Australia's chief executive Belinda Dennett warned that "a one-size-fits-all approach will not work and could backfire," noting that existing operating data centres already offset 70 percent of their energy use through renewable energy projects.[1][2] Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKay has called for strict deadlines to be imposed.[1] With approximately 160 data centres currently operating in Australia and McKinsey analysis projecting that AI data centres will account for 70 percent of data centre demand between 2025 and 2030, the energy sector faces mounting pressure to accommodate rapid growth.[2]