Data centres
Tim READ (Brunswick) (14:17): My question is for the Minister for Energy and Resources. The Victorian government has been working very hard to attract hyperscale AI data centres to Melbourne. These massive structures consume enormous amounts of electricity, predicted to be 8 per cent or more of the state’s electricity by 2030. One project proposed for Plumpton would consume more electricity than Victoria’s largest power station, Loy Yang A, can provide. Is it the case that Victoria’s coal-fired power plants will be running for longer because of this government’s push to attract data centres?
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:18): In one word, no. The reason for that is that our record investment in renewable electricity is ensuring that we have sufficient electricity supply, the replacement electricity, to be able to meet all of our needs in this state. It is no surprise that on this side of the house we are absolutely committed to economic growth and we are committed to transitioning our energy supply so that Victorians, whether they are businesses or whether they are households, can continue to enjoy the lowest wholesale electricity prices in the country. We can do both, and that is exactly what we will be delivering.
Tim READ (Brunswick) (14:18): I thank the minister for her answer. Backup generators in data centres are a new source of greenhouse emissions and air pollution. NextDC’s growing data centre in West Footscray uses diesel backup, while the proposed Plumpton project would have gas turbines. Gas companies are even joining the data centre lobby group Data Centres Australia, and there is a real risk that data centres will reverse previous gains in weaning Victoria off fossil fuels. So will the government require data centres to run off 100 per cent new renewable energy and to use batteries for backup, rather than fossil fuels?
Lily D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park – Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (14:19): I thank the member for the supplementary question. There is no doubt which side of the house actually has the record of delivering the fastest growth in emissions reductions in the country and the biggest growth in renewable electricity in the country. That will remain under our watch, and that is what is at risk from those opposite, who cuddle up with One Nation. I would say to the member for Brunswick that our commitment remains that we can continue to grow our economy as we transition our energy supply to renewable sources, because we know that when we do that and we do the heavy lifting in terms of decarbonising our economy our emissions go down. That is what our government will continue to deliver as we head towards net zero emissions by 2045. Only a Labor government will absolutely deliver that and the jobs growth that will come with that.