The Data Centre Boom: Balancing Energy, Environment and Community
Join Melbourne Energy Institute for an interdisciplinary discussion exploring the opportunities, challenges and policy considerations associated with growing data centre demand and its implications for Australia's energy future.
Australia is experiencing rapid growth in data centres, driven by cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the expanding digital economy. But powering this growth presents a complex challenge for Australia’s energy system. How can we accommodate rising electricity demand while maintaining an affordable, reliable and sustainable energy system?
Bringing together University of Melbourne researchers from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, the Faculty of Business and Economics, the Faculty of Science, and the Faculty of Arts, the event will explore these critical questions:
What are the challenges and operational issues faced by data centres operators?
Electricity demand and the power system: How do we power the data centre boom without putting additional pressure on the grid?
The grid economics of the data centre boom
Environment, land use and policy: Where should data centres be built, and what environmental impacts should be considered?
Misinformation, disinformation, and public trust: What shapes community acceptance?
