IREN Secures Transmission Deal for 800MW AI Data Centre Campus in South Australia
June 9, 2026
IREN Secures Transmission Deal for 800MW AI Data Centre Campus in South Australia
IREN has signed a transmission connection agreement for an 800MW data centre campus in Bundey, South Australia, marking its first announced data centre development in Australia. The site, located approximately 78 miles north-east of Adelaide, is positioned as one of the largest data centre campuses announced in the Asia-Pacific region. The agreement secures a high-voltage connection into the utility's substation, with four 330kV feeder exits expected to support up to 800MW without requiring network upgrades.
The campus is on track to begin energisation from 2028, with IREN planning to start early works and procurement while it seeks regulatory approvals and meets the conditions attached to the transmission connection agreement. The development represents a strategic move by the Nasdaq-listed group to establish a domestic data centre base in a market where demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure is rising sharply. IREN cited a gap between projected AI demand in Asia-Pacific and the available infrastructure across the region. The Bundey site also offers submarine fibre links to regional markets including Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan, underpinning its positioning as a campus serving customers across Asia-Pacific as well as demand within South Australia.
IREN expects the project to create more than 500 jobs during construction and more than 200 ongoing skilled roles once operational. The company tied the investment to South Australia's energy mix, noting the state's target of reaching 100% net renewable energy by 2027. Daniel Roberts, Co-Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of IREN, said the state combined energy supply, connectivity and policy support in a way that suited large-scale AI infrastructure. "South Australia offers what AI infrastructure at scale requires: abundant clean energy, the connectivity to serve the APAC region, and a State Government that understands the opportunity and is acting on it. The Bundey campus is able to serve global and regional AI demand, as well as South Australia's own growing need for AI compute. We look forward to partnering with the Government of South Australia, local communities and industry to expand domestic access to AI infrastructure, support research and innovation, and help build the skills and jobs the AI economy requires," Roberts said.
The South Australian government presented the project as part of a broader push to attract investment in digital infrastructure, renewable energy and advanced computing. Premier Peter Malinauskas said the development could support employment and strengthen the state's standing in the regional technology market. "Data centres are a significant economic opportunity, which can bring high-quality jobs, stronger renewable energy infrastructure, and new opportunities for regional communities. South Australia's leadership in renewable energy, our record investment in higher education, our unashamed pro-jobs and pro-business outlook and appointing the nation's first dedicated Minister for Artificial Intelligence means we are uniquely placed to seize the opportunities of AI. IREN's proposed Bundey campus represents a significant investment in our state, with the potential to create hundreds of construction jobs, support long-term skilled roles, and strengthen South Australia's position as a technology and innovation hub for the Asia-Pacific region," Malinauskas said.
Data centre developers and investors have been stepping up plans across Asia-Pacific as cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads drive demand for large sites with reliable power access and network connectivity. Australia has attracted growing attention from operators seeking land, energy and international cable links, although projects often depend on grid connections, planning approvals and equipment procurement. For IREN, the Bundey project expands its digital infrastructure footprint and places it in a competitive market for large-scale AI-focused facilities. At 800MW, the proposed campus would rank among the larger announced developments in the region, where operators are racing to secure power ahead of future customer demand. The transmission agreement is an important early milestone because grid access has become one of the main constraints on new data centre projects globally. By securing four feeder exits at the substation without requiring network upgrades, IREN has outlined a path to bring substantial capacity online if the remaining approvals and conditions are met. South Australia's policy settings are likely to remain in focus as the project progresses, particularly as the state promotes itself as a centre for renewable energy, advanced industry and AI-related investment.
Source: datacenternews
