Arabic version: هيدرو تسمانيا تراجع طلب «فيرموس» للحصول على 450 ميغاواط من الكهرباء

According to ABC News, Hydro Tasmania expects to decide by the end of 2026 whether to approve Firmus Technologies’ request for a long-term contract for 450 megawatts of power for three AI data centres in Tasmania.

Firmus is building an AI data centre in Launceston, has approval for another at Long Reach in the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, and has submitted a development application for a third at Wesley Vale in the state’s north-west. It currently holds a three-year contract for 104MW of hydro power for the Launceston facility, but requires a new arrangement for all three sites.

Hydro Tasmania said 450MW could equal up to 30 per cent of Tasmania’s current energy use and would make Firmus the state’s largest power user. Bell Bay Aluminium is currently the largest user at 355MW. Hydro said the energy system was currently “in balance”, but meeting the proposed demand would require additional generation.

The new supply could include wind and solar projects owned and managed by third-party private businesses, with Hydro Tasmania not funding, building or maintaining those developments. Hydro outlined options under which Firmus could contract directly with new renewable developers while Hydro provides firming, or contract with Hydro while it reaches agreements with generators. The company said it would assess Firmus’s financial stability, required generation, timing, value for Tasmania and water-storage responsibilities. Hydro will also make a submission to Tasmania’s AI data-centre inquiry, which closes for submissions on September 21.