앤트로픽은 석탄 화력 발전에 의존하며 연방 재생에너지 의무를 시험하는 광범위한 320억 달러 규모의 호주 데이터센터 계획의 일환인 104억 달러짜리 제라 DC 퀸즐랜드 프로젝트의 1단계 임대를 승인했다.
Artificial intelligence laboratory Anthropic has agreed to lease the first stage of an A$14.5 billion ($10.4 billion) data centre that Singapore-based Zerra DC is proposing to build in Queensland, marking the US company’s first major commitment in Australia.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli announced the agreement in the state parliament on Wednesday, confirming that San Francisco-based Anthropic will invest in the 1.44-gigawatt Western Downs Digital Park. Located in Queensland’s Darling Downs region approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of Brisbane, the facility represents a significant milestone for the state. “To have secured Anthropic’s first major investment in Australia is a massive show of confidence in Queensland,” Crisafulli said. “It is a major win that will deliver more jobs and put more energy into Queensland’s grid.”
According to estimates from JLL, Australia’s data centre development pipeline has surged to more than A$155 billion, with capacity under construction or in planning reaching 16.2GW—more than 13 times current levels. Western Downs Digital Park could grow to become the country’s largest, with future expansion plans envisioning a 2.16GW facility. The specific capacity Anthropic is leasing and the commercial terms of the lease remain undisclosed.
The consortium developing the project “has entered into lease documentation with the Australian subsidiary of Anthropic for the delivery of the first stage of the campus,” Sydney-based real estate and infrastructure group Dexus stated in a filing to the Australian Securities Exchange on Wednesday. Dexus issued the update because it holds an 85 percent interest in Australian Data Centres, which in turn holds a 25 percent stake in the project’s developer—a consortium comprising Singapore’s Zerra DC and Australia’s Macquarie Capital.
Crisafulli noted that he met with Anthropic representatives during a recent trade mission to the United States “to outline why Queensland was the place to invest, with energy security and a streamlined approvals process.” This approach contrasts with a proposed plan by Australia’s federal government to mandate that new data centres be powered by new renewable energy projects. The Queensland state government has opposed the federal proposal, asserting that the Western Downs facility would not require new electricity transmission infrastructure and would use minimal water during operations.
In April, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to introduce data centre standards in early 2027. These rules would require operators to underwrite new electricity generation proportional to their power usage, cover their share of electricity network operating costs, and fund any additional water infrastructure required by their sites. Crisafulli stated that the federal government made “the commonsense decision, endorsed by the prime minister, to allow Queensland to chart its own path for power supply” regarding data centre developments. He emphasized in parliament that “data centres must add value to local communities so Queenslanders benefit from the opportunity, too.”
“We must get it right and it must be on our terms,” Crisafulli said. “It must add energy generation to the grid and drive down power prices for Queenslanders. It must protect local water supplies and respect the communities where these centres go. We will take hold of the economic benefits of data centres with both hands, but we will do it in the right locations and in the right way. Communities will have a say, just as they now do for projects like wind, solar and batteries.”
The development application for Western Downs Digital Park outlines four 360-megawatt data centre buildings to be constructed in stages over four to six years at a site 37 kilometres northwest of the rural town of Dalby. The 726-hectare (1,793-acre) location sits near three gas-fired power stations, a solar farm, and the Braemar transmission substation. It falls within a Western Downs energy region hosting an estimated 5.4GW of generation and storage capacity, according to the project website. A planning report filed with the Western Downs Regional Council indicates that a potential future expansion could increase the project to 2.16GW across six 360-MW buildings. Construction is expected to cost A$14.5 billion, with backers estimating total private capital investment at A$31.9 billion if fully expanded. The project requires local council approvals, and Anthropic’s lease is subject to review by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board.
According to an ABC News report on Wednesday, Anthropic intends to use the Queensland site to power its Claude chatbot for answering user questions rather than for training AI models. Previously, in August, ABC News reported that Anthropic had sought up to 5GW of AI data centre capacity in New South Wales.
Broader industry projections highlight the scale of upcoming demand. Data from the Australian Energy Market Operator and Commonwealth Bank indicates Australian data centres will consume 15.6 terawatt hours of electricity by 2030–31, raising their share of national electricity demand from approximately 2.6 percent to 6.3 percent. Meanwhile, research from the University of Melbourne suggests data centre water use could reach 1.9 percent of Sydney’s supply and 0.9 percent of Melbourne’s supply by 2030.
To address grid integration, the Zerra DC facility will be “grid connected through a dedicated high-voltage connection at the Braemar substation” instead of the local distribution network, drawing roughly 540 megavolt-amperes per development stage and utilizing an on-site battery system to manage load fluctuations, according to the project website. Zerra DC operates as the data centre division of Singapore-based AGP Sustainable Real Assets. Planning documents state the project “will ultimately draw electricity from Queensland’s grid system, which uses a mixed generation portfolio,” with specific generation and contracting arrangements to be finalized as each phase advances. The consortium has pledged to collaborate with future customers on investments in additional generation and firming capacity as demand increases.
On the policy front, Australia’s federal government signed a collaborative memorandum of understanding with Anthropic in April. Officials described the agreement as a step to ensure the company’s future Australian operations align with national AI objectives focused on “capturing the opportunities of AI, spreading the benefits, and keeping Australians safe.” Separately, Dexus disclosed that its Australian Data Centres subsidiary is raising capital to bring in additional partners. Dexus may participate as an investor but has not yet decided whether to do so.
Resource consumption concerns continue to impact data centre development across Australia. Proposals in major urban centers, including Sydney, have faced delays due to water and energy scrutiny. While Goodman Group recently secured government approval for a 135MW facility in Macquarie Park, a nearby 90MW project in Lane Cove West has been paused amid water consumption concerns. Additionally, JLL has warned that warehouse rents could double in certain Australian markets by 2028 as infrastructure developers compete with traditional logistics operators to secure industrial land for data centre projects.