General News
26 July, 2026
Wind farmers rule out data connections
AT LEAST two renewable energy companies planning wind and solar farms in the Loddon Shire have ruled out co-locating data centres in their footprint.
AT LEAST two renewable energy companies planning wind and solar farms in the Loddon Shire have ruled out co-locating data centres in their footprint.
European Energy said on Friday it had not been in discussions with data centre operators to have a facility at its proposed Mincha site.
And Meering West Wind Farm said: “a data centre or any other industrial use is not proposed for the project and is not included in the planning permit application.”
Meering West currently has planning applications with the State Government.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said data centres could be expected to source their own power sources for the electricity and water high use operations.
Potentia Energy has lodged an Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act referral for its proposed solar farm at Mologa.
The proposed battery and sub-station will connect to existing transmission infrastructure, enabling efficient integration with the electricity grid, the company says in its application now awaiting a federal decision.
Potentia and Atmos, developers behind plans for a wind farm at Macorna were also asked if they had been in discussions with data centre operators.
It was announced to the ASX last week that X2MConnect and Resi Ventures wanted to build a centre in the outer Ballarat suburb of Miners Rest.
A Victorian Government spokespersonsaid: “The Government is putting local jobs, communities and household energy bills first. We’re working with the Commonwealth to prevent data centres increasing bills for households and businesses.
“Victoria is on track to meet our 95 per cent renewable energy target by 2035, with gas and firming technology accounting for the remaining five per cent.
“VicGrid, along with national energy regulators, are putting in place specific requirements around data centres to ensure they do not impact the stability of the grid or increase outages for other users.
“We are supporting the growth of data centre development across the state to be sustainable, well-planned and responsive to community and industry needs.
“Through the $5.5 million Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan, Victoria will unlock projects valued at up to $25 billion, establishing the state as the Asia-Pacific hub for sustainable data centres.
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