Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled a major plan to regulate the rapidly growing datacentre industry in the country. In a speech on artificial intelligence, Albanese promised to introduce new energy regulations that would require large-scale datacentres to contribute to the grid in a more sustainable way. The proposed rules would mandate datacentres to underwrite new power supply, pay their fair share of grid connection costs, and generate as much energy as they consume. Environmental and community groups have welcomed the move, but are calling for a pause on new datacentre developments until the regulations are in place, citing concerns over the industry's growing carbon footprint and impact on local communities.
Prime minister’s plan will create energy regulations for datacentres in AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEnvironmental and community groups have called for a pause on datacentre development until new regulations are in place after Anthony Albanese promised “greater clarity and speed” over their approval.In his landmark speech on artificial intelligence at the University of Sydney on Wednesday, the prime minister said Australia would create a legal obligation for large-scale datacentres to underwrite new power supply, pay their full share of grid connection, and add as much energy to the grid as they take out of it. Continue reading...
