{"id":592911,"date":"2026-11-06T10:47:38","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T23:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=592911"},"modified":"2026-11-06T10:48:03","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T23:48:03","slug":"firmus-ai-research-lab-green-lit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=592911","title":{"rendered":"Firmus’ AI research lab green-lit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A research and development facility for AI has been approved by a Tasmanian council, reviving calls to overhaul planning rules criticised as not fit for purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AI data centre builder Firmus will convert an existing warehouse at the former Wesley Vale pulp mill, in the state’s north-west, into a 26-megawatt facility for AI computing operations and research into alternative power sources during interruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our Wesley Vale facility will allow Tasmanian engineers to test novel operating strategies for AI infrastructure and help solve a challenge facing the industry globally,” co-founder and principal engineer for research and development (R&D) Jonathan Levee said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Building on software we developed and patented in Tasmania, we’re exploring how AI computing can be more flexible and respond to electricity grid conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“And how technologies such as batteries could help reduce reliance on diesel generators.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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Firmus is an Australian-founded company that makes money by building data centres, such as the proposed one at Wesley Vale, and renting out its capacity to other companies. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Separate to the R&D facility, Firmus remains committed to building an AI data centre at the site, also 26 megawatts, which the Latrobe Council has sought the state government to assess as a major project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company, which has plans to build three AI data centres in Tasmania<\/a>, withdrew its highly anticipated public offering on the Australian stock market<\/a> last month after investor interest cooled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ABC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AI data centre builder Firmus will convert an existing warehouse at the former Wesley Vale pulp mill, in the state’s north-west, into a 26-megawatt facility for AI computing operations and research.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90574,"featured_media":505648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12785],"tags":[21027],"class_list":["post-592911","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-centre","tag-firmus"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t