Data centre power use in Australia to rise sevenfold by 2036

Australian data centres are projected to consume 13 percent of the country's main electricity market by 2035-36, a nearly sevenfold increase from their current 3 percent share, according to a major forecast from the Australian Energy Market Operator. The projection, released on August 24, 2026, in AEMO's annual Electricity Statement of Opportunities, highlights the growing strain artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure will place on the National Electricity Market as it simultaneously retires aging coal and gas generation. The report estimates data centres will draw 34 terawatt hours of energy annually from the grid by 2035-36, up from 5 terawatt hours in 2025-26.