What happened
- Operators could be required to be net generators of power, supplying or underwriting as much electricity as they use.
- Operators may have to maximise energy efficiency, minimise water use and pay for any additional water infrastructure.
- A single streamlined approval process would replace fragmented state and territory pathways, with a new Office of AI to coordinate policy.
- Legislation is targeted for early 2027, following National Cabinet agreement.
Why it matters
Water efficiency is becoming a licence condition. Closed loops that are filled once, cleaned with a fraction of the water of a conventional flush, and kept sealed are part of how an operator demonstrates it.
SI briefing summarising public reporting by Gilbert + Tobin. Figures are as reported by the source.
