Rising demand for data centres to support the surging use of artificial intelligence creates an opportunity for the power-hungry facilities to supply heat to neighbouring buildings and precincts – if Australia’s laws can be changed to allow moves already under way in Europe.

With as many as 6 billion people, or 90 per cent of the global smartphone market, estimated to be using generative AI applications by 2028 and consuming 4250 megawatts of power, data centres could play a role in Australia’s evolving energy mix, a report by ADP Consulting shows.