What happened
- At least 27 approved, unbuilt data centres with a combined capacity of at least 3.38 GW, more than double the roughly 1.5 GW of IT capacity across 162 existing centres counted in March 2026.
- The federal government plans legislation by early 2027 requiring new data centres to underwrite renewable energy, cover connection costs, be water-efficient and be appropriately sited.
- The Prime Minister has said the rules will not apply to projects already approved or under construction.
- NSW and Victoria are the main growth markets, with hyperscalers and Australian operators among the developers.
Why it matters
The next wave of halls is larger and liquid-cooled, and water efficiency is becoming a condition of approval. Closed loops that are filled once, kept clean and documented are part of that answer.
SI briefing summarising public reporting by ABC News. Figures are as reported by the source.
