Data Centres should pay for clean energy: Poll

Australians overwhelmingly believe data centre operators should be required to fund the renewable energy needed to power their rapidly growing operations, according to new polling commissioned by the Climate Council.

The YouGov survey of 1624 Australians found 82% support governments requiring new data centres to pay for additional renewable energy generation and storage equivalent to their electricity consumption, as federal and state energy ministers prepare to discuss the issue at next week's Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council meeting.

The findings come amid forecasts electricity demand from Australian data centres will triple by 2030, driven largely by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie said Australians were sending a clear message to governments and industry.

"Australians have sent a crystal-clear message: operators cashing in on the AI boom must bring their own clean energy to the table," McKenzie said.

"With energy demand from Australian data centres set to triple by 2030, we can't afford to let this industry drain our grid, push up electricity bills and create more climate pollution."

The polling also found 69% of respondents supported mandatory energy and water efficiency standards for new data centres, while 67% believed the facilities risked placing additional strain on the electricity grid and increasing household power bills.

McKenzie said recent commitments from the federal government to ensure data centres did not increase electricity prices would require stronger policy settings.

"The federal government promised last week to ensure that data centres won't drive up power prices. This requires mandating that data centres build their own additional renewable power," McKenzie said.

"Without immediate action, Australian households will pay the price through spiked energy bills and soaring pollution within the next few years."

Despite concerns about energy demand, the survey suggested Australians remain unconvinced about the broader economic benefits of the sector, with fewer than half (49%) agreeing the data centre industry would significantly boost Australia's economy.