Datacentres should be forced to invest in wind and solar energy, all states agree – except Queensland

The power needs of datacentres, like this one in Sydney, should be fully offset by renewable energy, most state ministers agreed. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP

Power hungry datacentres that are growing to meet the demands of artificial intelligence could be forced to invest in enough new solar and wind generation to completely cover their electricity needs.

State and federal energy ministers agreed at a meeting last week that datacentres across the country should “fully offset” their electricity demand through investments in new renewable generation and energy storage.