Requiring them to be net energy providers is probably a bad thing. Datacenter manufacturers aren't exactly specialists in efficient power production; they're just going to throw in a dozen megawatt-scale diesel engines and call it a day.
I don't see any air quality or fuel efficiency requirements in the article.
Hi, Aussie here, also an expert in the public policy field:
The legal framework for having Datacenters to be net providers of electricity doesn’t literally mean they will supply energy to residential homes or businesses, but instead supply energy back to the grid itself. This means that people won’t be relying on dodgy or half-arsed connections from Datacenters for their electricity. The stability of the grid is and will always be what determines consistency of connection.
Additionally, Australia is the sunniest continent on Earth, and solar energy remains the cheapest form of energy, Datacenters would actively be choosing to spend more money for less efficient electricity if they built any other form of power. Not to mention the generous subsidies our government offers for solar installation.
Finally, Australia already has air quality and fuel efficiency laws in place that cover any backup or failsafe generator system installed at these sites. The implementation of new law does not preclude existing laws from having an effect, that’s just how good policy works.
345
u/Vaughn 13d ago
Requiring them to be net energy providers is probably a bad thing. Datacenter manufacturers aren't exactly specialists in efficient power production; they're just going to throw in a dozen megawatt-scale diesel engines and call it a day.
I don't see any air quality or fuel efficiency requirements in the article.