Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government has announced plans to mandate that new large-scale data centers fund renewable energy generation equal to or exceeding their electricity consumption. The legislation, expected to reach Parliament in early 2027, will also require data centers to cover 100% of their grid connection costs, ensuring households do not subsidize infrastructure for corporate operators. Most states and territories support the initiative, though Queensland and the Northern Territory have opposed it. IREN, formerly known as Iris Energy, is among the most affected companies with its planned 800 MW data center campus in Bundey, South Australia. Australia currently hosts 162 data center facilities, at least 90 new ones have been proposed, and sector electricity consumption is expected to triple in the coming years.
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