Submission to the Inquiry into AI Data Centres in Tasmania

This means the sector must be a net positive to the communities in which it is based, and the state as a whole. Utility use standards and safety regulations will be essential to ensuring the required positive community sentiment.

This submission draws on ATSE's recent submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications' inquiry into artificial intelligence and data centres supporting a responsible AI and data centre sector.  Many recommendations are relevant for Tasmania as well, particularly protecting public resources and the environment, ensuring transparent public disclosure of resource consumption, and ensuring the community receives tangible benefits from all AI and data facilities constructed in the state.

ATSE's recommendations include:

• Require new data centres to underwrite additional renewable electricity generation and storage capacity, to support increased electricity demand and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy.
• Extend energy performance reporting requirements beyond government data centres by mandating the public disclosure of key metrics, including Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), for large data centres across Australia.
• Develop a national water reporting framework for data centres that requires consistent disclosure of both direct water consumption and indirect water use associated with electricity generation.
• Incorporate data centre workforce needs into national skills and infrastructure workforce planning.
• Incorporate new low-energy digital technologies where possible.