The "cloud" that powers everything from sending an email to asking an AI chatbot a question needs massive amounts of power to run, and that's making energy experts nervous.

Morgan Stanley estimates that data centres are currently using 5 per cent (1,050 MW) of the electricity on Australia’s power grid and that is expected to grow to 8 per cent (2,500 MW) by 2030.

Some estimates even suggest they could require up to 15 per cent of the power on the grid by then.

  • notgold@aussie.zoneEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    I wonder what the difference in costs are for the privately owned distribution in Victoria versus the government owned distribution in QLD or NT. Is the cost higher for the data centres in publicly owned or privately owned areas?