Data Center Demand to Double Australia’s Electricity Demand by 2050
According to the latest roadmap from the power grid operator, data center electricity demand is expected to surge over the next 25 years, nearly doubling the electricity consumption of Australia’s main grid by 2050. In its biennial Integrated System Plan, the Australian Energy Market Operator pointed out that data centers will account for nearly 10% of the underlying demand in the National Electricity Market by 2050, four times the current share. The report confirms that the lowest-cost option is a power system based on renewable energy, connected through transmission and distribution networks, and supplemented by energy storage and natural gas. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said, “Our plan is to deliver cheaper, cleaner energy, using our own solar and wind power to protect our grid from global fluctuations.”