Northern Territory could host $28bn off-grid AI data center
Massive gas-powered data center project proposed in Australia's outback.
1Mega-scale project
A $28 billion off-grid AI data center is planned at Murranji Station in Australia's Northern Territory. The project aims to leverage the region's gas resources and vast land. Phase one targets 1 gigawatt of computing capacity.
2Energy solution
The off-grid campus will run on 1,038MW gas-fired generation (hydrogen-ready), 3GW solar, and 16GWh battery storage. The gas component is framed as a bridge fuel, with promises to transition to renewables over time.
3Location advantage
Exhausted data center capacity near Sydney is pushing developers inland. The Territory offers abundant sunlight and space. Gas reserves in the Beetaloo basin provide critical on-site energy resources.
4Investment scale
Phase one requires AUD$11.9 billion investment. Total project value is reportedly $28 billion. The campus is designed to scale beyond 5GW. The solar farm alone would span 7,000 hectares.
5Approval process
The project received Major Project Status but still needs environmental approvals under EPBC Act. Final investment decision is expected 12-18 months after approvals. Construction would follow a similar timeline.
6Industry significance
This could become a test case for sustainable energy solutions in AI infrastructure. However, initial gas use raises environmental concerns. Reflects Australia's booming data center market growth.
Original article: The Next Web — Kuzey Bölgesi'nde 28 milyar dolarlık AI veri merkezi planı