Victoria, Australia Proposes Strict Renewable Energy and Water Regulations for New Data Centers
The state of Victoria, Australia, has introduced new regulations requiring all new data centers to secure their own renewable energy supply and storage. Announced by Premier Ben Carroll, these rules are part of a broader Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan. In addition to renewable energy mandates, the proposed regulations stipulate that data centers must bear the costs of connection and network upgrades, and utilize recycled or non-drinking water for cooling purposes. The plan also prohibits the construction of data centers in residential zones, near schools and childcare centers, and in rural areas lacking adequate infrastructure. Furthermore, data center operators will be responsible for managing traffic during both construction and operation phases. These measures come in response to the rapidly increasing energy demand from data centers in Victoria and growing community concerns across Australia regarding the strain on land, water, and power resources. Currently, data centers in Victoria use less than...
