GreenSquareDC, a next generation AI enabled data centre operator, today announced its entry into a long-term ground lease over 3,100ha of land at Billericay Road East Hyden, Western Australia.
The decisive move signals the next phase in GreenSquareDC’s journey to establish a ~150MW wind and solar farm aimed at powering its customers at its $1BN 96MW WAi1 Data Centre with 24/7 carbon free energy.
Known as being both very windy and very sunny, the East Hyden land benefits from existing 132KV lines traversing the site, onsite substation and all the other requisite physical and natural ingredients necessary for a successful large scale renewable energy play to support WAi1.
Synergy’s recently approved Kings Rock 150MW wind and solar farm is located approx. 30kw away with many of the same features, including sharing a similar land size, same 132KV lines and same road network.
“At WAi1, our focus is to service hyperscale, government, and wholesale enterprise customers seeking traditional or AI-enabled workloads, who prefer cost-effective, highly sustainable, ESG focused outcomes,” said Walt Coulston, Founder & CEO of GreenSquareDC.
“Perth’s unique location, connectivity into APAC, stable government, super low energy power pricing, and WAi1’s pioneering design, positions us to be the first fully AI-enabled, highly sustainable next-generation Data Centre in the APAC region.”
The impact of such initiatives is significant. The transition from a traditional 96MW data centre operating at full capacity in Perth and relying on grid energy with fossil fuel generation to one that operates on 24/7 renewable energy equates to a reduction of approx. 700,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Urbis, a trusted and recognised Australian leader in urban consulting, planning and design, has been instrumental in achieving this milestone and is also advising GreenSquareDC on WAi1.
The team, including Jon Mills, Sheryll Bonnici, Richard Barry, Alex Krall, Tim Dawkins and Kate Bainbridge, have helped GreenSquareDC navigate the complexities of the project to date.
“Working with GreenSquareDC on this innovative project has been a highly rewarding and refreshing experience. It’s exciting to be involved with such a bold and sustainable approach to providing green power for this sector.” stated Jon Mills, Director at Urbis.
Sheryll Bonnici, another key Urbis Director, said, “This project not only resonates with WA Government’s Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategies (SERS) to help business transition to net zero emissions, but also with property owners who want to be part of the decarbonisation strategy.”
The necessity for carbon-intensive industries, such as data centres, to launch their own renewable energy projects is further underscored by the emerging Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reduction