Asset Operations Specialist

Australia should treat data centres as 'anchor tenants' for clean energy infrastructure, says AirTrunk. July 30, 2026 Large data centres should serve as "anchor tenants" for new renewable energy generation, storage, and transmission investment, leveraging the scale and longevity of digital infrastructure commitments to advance energy projects rather than waiting for supply to arrive. These are the words of Sabooh Whitelaw, associate vice-president, energy and utilities at AirTrunk, addressing the audience at the Australian Clean Energy Summit 2026 in Sydney on Tuesday (28 July). Whitelaw, who previously worked in transmission at TransGrid before joining the data centre operator, said the framing of how Australia plans for data centre demand matters as much as the obligations placed on the sector. "Building for demand starts with a narrow question: how do we supply the electricity required by this new load? Building from demand asks a more valuable question: how can credible, long-term digital demand help bring forward the generation, storage, and transmission that we already need?" AirTrunk, founded in Australia in 2015, operates 11 data centres across seven cities and five markets in the Asia Pacific region. Its customers include large cloud technology and artificial intelligence companies. Whitelaw said the company already matches 86% of its energy use in Australia with renewables, but acknowledged more work was needed across the sector. Whitelaw referenced figures from the Clean Energy Council estimating that data centres currently represent approximately 2% of National Electricity Market (NEM) demand, a figure it projects could rise to around 10% by 2050. It was almost no surprise that this rising demand made data centres something of a "buzzword" across the two-day event, where it featured across multiple panel discussions. Whitelaw framed that growth within the broader context of an electricity system already under pressure from coal retirement, transport and industrial electrification, and population growth. "Australia needs to build at an unprecedented scale. We need substantially more generation, storage, and transmission, regardless of whether another data centre is approved," she says. The policy landscape around data centre energy obligations has shifted rapidly in recent weeks. On 15 July, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that large-scale data centres would be legally required to put at least as much energy into the grid as they draw from it, committing to a net-generator obligation that would require facilities to underwrite new renewable energy generation and firming capacity, pay their full share of connection costs, and reduce demand when required to support grid stability. The government's approach is expected to go to national cabinet next month, with legislation targeted for introduction to parliament early next year. In reference to the announcement, Whitelaw said AirTrunk supported the underlying principle. "New energy-intensive infrastructure should contribute to the new energy it requires for its growth. It should pay its way, and its development should create value for the broader community." She also noted that the Clean Energy Council released its flexible contracting framework last week, which she said recognised the need for additional firm renewables, the timing gap between data centres and renewable energy projects, and a glide path as facilities ramp load. The regulatory framework is also evolving at the technical level. In March 2026, the Australian Energy Market Commission proposed new standards requiring large data centres to remain connected during grid faults rather than disconnecting, following international incidents in which facilities tripped simultaneously during disturbances, causing cascading blackouts. The draft standards apply to facilities with loads of 30MW or more and align with requirements used or proposed in Texas, Ireland and Finland. Three principles for a workable framework. Whitelaw set out three principles she argued should guide the design of any policy framework governing data centre energy obligations. The first is aligning the pace of digital and energy infrastructure development. She noted that a major data centre campus can move from planning to operation in around two years, while new renewable energy generation, transmission and network upgrades take considerably longer. "If energy planning waits until every megawatt of demand is fully contracted, the infrastructure will arrive too late," she says. Her proposed solution draws on an analogy from commercial property: data centres can function as "anchor tenants for energy infrastructure," providing enough certainty of long-term demand at a known location to give renewable energy developers and investors confidence to commit capital before final demand is locked in. Fluence, a battery storage system integrator, has argued along similar lines, contending that battery storage systems can help data centres smooth power demand, accelerate connection times and create flexible power architectures that enable faster deployment while supporting the renewable energy transition. The second principle is to focus on outcomes while allowing flexibility in how they are delivered. Whitelaw pointed to Ireland's connection policy, which requires data centres to meet at least 80% of annual demand with additional Irish renewable energy projects while allowing a six-year glide path for those projects to be developed. "Australia should design for its own market, but the principle is sound. Strong additionality requirements need a credible runway if they are to bring new projects forward, rather than making compliance impossible." She said the framework should permit a range of commercial models, including long-term power purchase agreements, direct investment in generation or storage, and behind-the-meter or grid-connected assets. The third principle is maintaining commercial discipline. Whitelaw was direct about the limits of what data centre demand can and should underwrite. "Long-term data centre demand is very valuable to energy projects. It is not a blank cheque." She said data centres should not be positioned as a solution for projects whose economics do not stand on their own. "Strong demand cannot compensate for poor project economics. The framework must improve bankability while preserving commercial discipline." She framed the obligations as reciprocal. Data centres need to provide credible demand forecasts and long-term commitments. Developers and network businesses need to deliver projects with competitive economics, and governments need to provide a stable, nationally consistent framework. Whitelaw also noted that the communities hosting the generation, storage and transmission infrastructure supporting digital growth would often be located far from the data centres themselves. "Social licence will depend on whether communities can see the connection between the infrastructure they're hosting in their backyard and the opportunity it creates," she says. Whitelaw closed by noting that AirTrunk had joined the Clean Energy Council, framing the membership as reflecting the need for industries that have traditionally worked separately to collaborate on shared infrastructure challenges. "We, the data centres, are the demand looking for energy infrastructure. This group has the energy infrastructure looking for long-term demand. Our task is to turn that alignment into projects that are credible, commercial, and built." Its publisher, Solar Media (part of Informa Group), will host the Battery Asset Management Summit Australia 2026 on 25-26 August at Amora Hotel Jamison in Sydney. 6 October 2026 Warsaw, Poland The Energy Storage Summit Central Eastern Europe is set to return in September 2025 for its third edition, focusing on regional markets and the unique opportunities they present. This event will bring together key stakeholders from across the region to explore the latest trends in energy storage, with a focus on the increasing integration of energy storage into regional grids, evolving government policies, and the growing need for energy security.

UGL awarded contract for critical grid-stabilising works supporting NSW energy transition. CIMIC Group's UGL has been awarded a contract by Transgrid to deliver enabling works for synchronous condensers at its Wellington and Darlington Point substations in New South Wales. The project forms part of the first phase of Transgrid's System Strength Plan, involving installation of 10 synchronous condensers at five sites to support the stability and reliability of the state's electricity network as it transitions from coal-fired generation to renewable energy. UGL's scope includes civil and building works to support the future installation of the synchronous condensers, including earthworks, foundations, underground services and the construction of facilities to house electrical and communications systems. The works are being delivered as part of a NSW Government Priority Network Infrastructure Project, helping to ensure the transmission network remains secure and resilient as increasing volumes of renewable energy are connected to the grid. ACS Group and HOCHTIEF Chief Executive Officer and CIMIC Group Executive Chairman Juan Santamaría said: "Reliable, resilient transmission infrastructure is critical to Australia's energy transition. This project will strengthen the NSW electricity network, providing the system strength needed to maintain grid stability as the energy mix evolves. UGL's proven capability in delivering complex energy infrastructure will play an important role in delivering these works for Transgrid." UGL Managing Director Sam Goldsmith said: "UGL is proud to support Transgrid's System Strength Plan through the delivery of enabling works at Wellington and Darlington Point. Synchronous condensers are playing an increasingly important role in maintaining network stability and reliability, helping to ensure a secure electricity supply as the energy mix evolves. We look forward to working with Transgrid to safely and efficiently deliver these works." Construction activities have commenced. Latest news View more news 21 July 2026 UGL awarded contract for critical grid-stabilising works supporting NSW energy transition UGL has been awarded a contract by Transgrid to deliver enabling works for synchronous condensers at its Wellington and Darlington Point substations in New South Wales. Read more 20 July 2026 Inspiring the next generation of industry professionals Its Singapore teams participate in the Nanyang Girls' High School Career Fair 17 July 2026 Leighton Asia awarded works for a data centre project in Thailand Leighton Asia to deliver works for a data centre in Thailand 17 July 2026 Milestone moment for new Dunedin Hospital Vertical construction is now underway on the New Dunedin Hospital | Project Whakatuputupu Inpatient Building, with the first structural steel installed on Wednesday, marking the start of the inpatient building rising above ground. 16 July 2026 UGL delivers live-network milestone at Neerabup Terminal UGL has achieved a construction milestone at Neerabup Terminal, successfully completing the installation of the first 330kV gantry structure next to live network condition, as part of the Clean Energy Link program by Western Power. 16 July 2026 Leighton Asia at the Bupati Awards Congratulations to its Indonesia team 15 July 2026 CPB Contractors selected to deliver Stage 1 of Toowoomba to Warwick Pipeline CIMIC Group company CPB Contractors, in joint venture with Nacap, has been selected by Seqwater to deliver Stage 1 of the Toowoomba to Warwick (T2W) Pipeline on behalf of the Queensland Government. 13 July 2026 Outstanding safety culture recognised with RoSPA Gold Award Leighton Asia project Elan The Presidential receives the Gold Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) 13 July 2026 Building futures through opportunity: CPB Contractors' partnership with CareerSeekers CPB Contractors is proud to highlight its long-standing partnership with CareerSeekers, an initiative that reflects its commitment to creating inclusive workplaces and supporting talented individuals in rebuilding their careers in Australia. 12 July 2026 Water from air driving sustainability and social impact on Cross River Rail CPB Contractors is Australia's first civil infrastructure contractor to replace bottled water coolers with Aqua Ubique's MG10 Business Buddy atmospheric water generators.