Amazon to invest $20 billion in renewable energy-powered data centers in Australia

Amazon plans to invest $20 billion in expanding its data center infrastructure in Australia, focusing on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

This initiative will be an essential step in reducing dependence on traditional energy resources and will contribute to the development of Australia’s cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence technologies.

The project includes agreements with three utility-scale solar power plants, one of which is already operational — Mokoan Solar Park in Victoria. In addition, two other projects — Winton North and Bullyard Solar Parks — are expected to add another 333 MW of capacity, significantly increasing the share of solar energy in Australia’s energy mix.

These investments are expected to help Australia realize its ambitions for growth in artificial intelligence and cloud technology, as the International Energy Agency predicts that the demand for electricity for data centers will double by 2030.

Amazon has committed to purchasing more than 170 MW of electricity from these new projects, which will form the basis for the further growth of its infrastructure and Australia’s transition to cleaner energy. Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, noted that these steps open up significant economic opportunities for Australia related to the development of artificial intelligence.

In addition, the company is already actively investing in solar projects in other Australian states, such as New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria, emphasizing the importance of renewable energy sources for reducing carbon emissions.

Instead of following the traditional path of development, Amazon is focusing on environmentally friendly energy sources, which could set an example for other large technology companies looking to expand their operations in Australia and the region.