Major Data Center Project Announced for Western Australia's Kimberley Region

A joint venture named Gingerah Energy has unveiled plans to construct a large-scale data center in Western Australia's remote Kimberley region. The proposed facility, known as Project Meridien, would be situated on Karajarri country, approximately 2,000 kilometers north of Perth and south of Broome.

The initial phase is planned to provide approximately 240 megawatts of IT capacity, with potential for expansion to 1 gigawatt.

The project is projected to open in 2032, with construction expected to begin in late 2029 or early 2030. The facility is described as being designed to support large-scale artificial intelligence training, including systems like ChatGPT.

Project Structure and Partners

The proponent is a joint venture between the Karajarri Traditional Lands Association (KTLA), Dutch geodata company Fugro, and Australian geoscience firm Longreach Capital Investment. Karajarri traditional owners are described as a one-third partner in the project.

An Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Karajarri People has been signed, covering more than 30,000 square kilometers, with about 275 square kilometers designated for proposed development.

KTLA chairperson Thomas King stated that for traditional owners to co-own such a project was rare, and that he was not aware of any other traditional owners across the country engaged in similar projects of this magnitude.

Mr. King also noted that support for the project was not unanimous among KTLA members, stating that with any project impacting country and heritage protection, there would be elements that are not comfortable, and that this would require internal discussion.

Technical and Environmental Aspects

The data center would be powered by a mix of wind, solar, natural gas, and batteries. According to Gingerah Energy chief executive Jop van Hattum, the facility would use a closed-loop water cooling system that recirculates water.

The company stated it will advance environmental studies in the coming months before referral to Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority for assessment. The data center would be single-storey and form part of a building complex near wind turbines and solar panels.

Market Context and Statements

According to the WA Climate Council, Australia has more than 250 data centers, which typically range from five to 10 megawatts in size. Project Meridien's initial 240-megawatt capacity would therefore represent a significant increase in scale.

Jop van Hattum stated that domestic customers might include mining companies using AI training, and that international customers might include Singaporean companies due to geographical proximity and fiber optic connectivity.