Deals Counterparts

Data centre operators to invest in renewable energy and workforce training

Investment Data Center announced Australia Feb 26, 2026

Data centre operators are proposed to invest in 100% new renewable energy to power their operation, and also fund new energy workforce training, as part of a plan delivered to the federal government by an alliance of industry, environment and union groups.

Deal Analysis

This announced investment deal involves data centre operators in Australia committing to 100% renewable energy to power their operations and funding new energy workforce training. The plan was delivered to the federal government by an alliance of industry, environment, and union groups, indicating broad stakeholder support. While the financial value of the investment is undisclosed, the commitment to renewable energy and workforce development suggests a significant long-term strategic shift for the data centre sector in Australia. The deal is notable for its collaborative nature, bringing together data centre operators with a diverse range of environmental and labor organizations. This signals a growing emphasis on sustainability and responsible business practices within the data centre industry. The involvement of numerous endorsing organizations, including the Smart Energy Council, WWF-Australia, and the Electrical Trades Union, highlights the widespread recognition of the need for data centres to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a skilled workforce in the renewable energy sector. The success of this initiative will likely influence similar developments in other regions and industries.
  • Data centre operators are investing in 100% renewable energy for their operations.
  • The deal includes funding for new energy workforce training.
  • The initiative is supported by a broad alliance of industry, environment, and union groups.
  • The financial value of the investment is undisclosed.
Market Context: The data centre market in Australia is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing demand for cloud computing and data storage. This growth has raised concerns about the sector's energy consumption and environmental impact, leading to increased pressure for sustainable practices.

Source Intelligence

KEY DETAILS

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) estimates data centres will consume 6% of Australia’s grid-supplied electricity by 2030. Quote: Estimated by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to consume 6% of Australia’s grid-supplied electricity by 2030 Electricity demand from Australia’s data centre growth is expected to rise from 1.35 GW today to between 5-8 GW by 2035. Quote: electricity demand from Australia’s data centre growth is expected to rise from 1.35 GW today to between 5-8 GW by 2035.

Location
Australia
Announcement
February 26, 2026
PARTIES MENTIONED IN SOURCE
C
Clean Energy Council endorser

"The proposal has been endorsed by the Clean Energy Council (CEC)"

E
Electrical Trades Union endorser

"Electrical Trades Union (ETU)"

A
Australian Conservation Foundation endorser

"Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)"

W
WWF-Australia endorser

"WWF-Australia"

S
Smart Energy Council endorser

"Smart Energy Council (SEC)"

R
RE-Alliance endorser

"RE-Alliance"

C
Climate Energy Finance endorser

"Climate Energy Finance (CEF)"

N
Nature Conservation Council of NSW endorser

"Nature Conservation Council of NSW"

E
Environment Victoria endorser

"Environment Victoria"

Q
Queensland Conservation Council endorser

"Queensland Conservation Council (QCC)"

S
Sunrise Project Australia endorser

"Sunrise Project Australia"

C
Carbon Zero Initiative endorser

"Carbon Zero Initiative"

medium quality Enriched Feb 26, 2026

Timeline

Announced
Feb 26, 2026
Signed
Closed

Counterparts (13)

endorser
Smart Energy Council
company
The Smart Energy Council is the peak industry body for solar, storage and smart energy in Australia....
C
Carbon Zero Initiative
company
Carbon Zero Initiative is focused on developing and investing in projects that reduce carbon emissio...
Clean Energy Council
company
The Clean Energy Council is the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia. They represent...
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
company
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is the state's leading environmental advocacy organisation. T...
RE-Alliance
company
RE-Alliance is a company operating in the infrastructure industry. They focus on renewable energy an...
E
Electrical Trades Union
company
The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) is an Australian trade union representing workers in the electrica...
Environment Victoria
company
Environment Victoria is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working to protect Victoria's en...
W
WWF-Australia
company
WWF-Australia focuses on conservation and sustainability initiatives. Their work includes promoting ...
S
Sunrise Project Australia
company
Sunrise Project Australia is focused on driving the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy...
C
Climate Energy Finance
company
Climate Energy Finance is an investment firm focused on climate and energy-related projects. They ai...
The Australian Conservation Foundation
company
The Australian Conservation Foundation is Australia's national environment organisation. It advocate...
Queensland Conservation Council
company
The Queensland Conservation Council is Queensland’s peak non-profit environment organisation, dedica...

Market Context

This deal is part of the Data Center sector in Australia.
139
Data Center deals
108
deals in Australia
1 of 131 Data Center deals tracked this month · Updated daily

Stay informed

Weekly infrastructure deal intelligence — PPAs, acquisitions, data centers, and more.

Subscribe to Newsletter