26 August 2026
The Clean Energy Investor Group reiterates the importance of ensuring data centres are powered by renewables, amidst discussion at today’s National Cabinet meeting.
Quotes attributable to Richie Merzian, CEO of the Clean Energy Investor Group:
“The Federal Government’s position that data centres should be powered by new, additional renewable energy is an important signal to investors holding the pen on clean energy deals.”
“Data centres are forecast to be the largest new source of electricity demand in Australia, and governments need to make sure this is met in a way that makes our overall electricity supply cleaner, not dirtier.”
CEIG’s annual membership survey published in July revealed that 92% of investors view data centre growth as having a positive impact on clean energy investment.
“Australia’s competitive advantage in the burgeoning AI industry is our world-class clean energy resources. To use dirty fuels would be to squander a golden opportunity to lead on exporting clean computing to the world.”
“Renewable energy is not only the cheapest form of new electricity, it can be the fastest to deliver, with many approved projects on the East Coast ready to go.
“Australia is also a world leader in delivering large-scale storage, only behind China and the US in absolute volume, and it’s this storage that should be the central pillar of data centre firming capacity.
“The release of AEMO’s Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) this week underlines the huge potential for data centres to shake-up our power grid.
“CEIG looks forward to working with the Commonwealth, as well as State and Territory governments, as they work towards a legislative package on data centres that provides certainty to clean energy investors.”
