Australia 1GW Data Centre Drops 2028 Target

Energy North has withdrawn its June 28, 2028, target for first power at Project Ares, a proposed 1-gigawatt data center campus at Murranji Station in Australia’s Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority suspended its usual seven-week assessment timeframe on October 7 while it seeks guidance from the federal government, and it has not set a new deadline. The project has not been rejected; it must undergo an environmental impact statement process, with the regulator still to define the required studies and assessment terms. Energy North says the date was indicative and it will confirm a schedule after those requirements are established. The proposed off-grid facility is intended to serve demand for AI and cloud computing, using gas and solar power.