Claims data centres are adding renewables to the grid and aiding decarbonisation have been challenged by a prominent environment group that's calling for a moratorium on development.
In a comprehensive report, Greenpeace has interrogated the industry's environmental credentials, accusing it of failing to cover its own emissions with new solar and wind and "heaping massive new load" onto the grid.
It's also sharply critical of data centre proposals that include onsite gas generation, including a NSW Cloud Carrier project involving a 700-megawatt power plant, and questions the "critical infrastructure" status given "AI is being used for abuse, war and other human rights violations".
Australia has become the second biggest destination for data centre investments worldwide as tech companies rush to meet demand for AI tools.
