A document tabled in state parliament has revealed that unnamed companies are exploring six new data centres in Tasmania. The government has not said whether one company or several are behind the proposals.
Two of the six are at the feasibility stage, with a preferred site chosen and further assessment under way. One of these is planned for the north-west and would need 200 to 300 megawatts of power, which could make it the state’s largest data centre depending on where in that range it lands. A second project of the same size is still at the concept stage. A separate 50MW concept has reportedly expressed interest in Liberty Bell Bay, the closed manganese smelter in northern Tasmania.
If all six go ahead, they would draw at least 500MW.
The proposals come on top of Firmus Technologies‘ three AI data centres. One is under construction in Launceston, another has approval at the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, and a third awaits approval at Wesley Vale in the north-west. Together they need 444MW, putting Firmus on track to become the state’s biggest power user. Firmus has confirmed it is not behind the six new proposals.
Separately, VIRIDIS has council approval for a small 1MW data centre in Burnie.
