Arabic version: الإقليم الشمالي يندد بقواعد اتحادية لمراكز البيانات العاملة بالغاز

According to ABC News, the Northern Territory government has criticised federal plans to prevent gas-powered data centres, with minister Josh Burgoyne calling the proposed intervention “overreach”.

The Commonwealth wants to require data centres to use renewables and create a national renewable-energy offset policy. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said proposals relying entirely on gas would not meet minimum national standards, could not register and would not be able to proceed, even where a state or territory had granted approval.

Mr Burgoyne said the Territory should be able to govern itself. The NT government supports a gas-fired data centre expansion linked to development of gas fields in the Beetaloo Basin, and he said the federal government was trying to remove a competitive advantage.

Mr Bowen said gas could still be used as a firming option to provide consistent electricity, while the primary requirement would be renewable energy. Queensland and the NT have rejected the federal approach.

The NT recently allocated land near Darwin for a proposed $40 billion Beetaloo Digital project. The company is a subsidiary of Beetaloo Energy. Its managing director, Alex Underwood, has said the proposal could partner with renewable projects, without specifying the extent. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the federal government backed nationally consistent regulation, while Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan said developers should choose their own energy mix.