A New South Wales inquiry recommended that data centres be required to use renewable energy on an hourly basis.

What it means

A New South Wales government inquiry has recommended that data centres be required to match their electricity consumption with renewable energy on an hourly basis, rather than using annual offsets. The recommendation responds to the rapid growth of data centres in the state, which are projected to eventually consume more power than all homes in Sydney combined.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is solidly grounded in the inquiry's final report, as reported by multiple reputable sources including the Australian Financial Review, InnovationAus, RenewEconomy, and Channel News Asia. These outlets are secondary but closely aligned with the primary source and show consistent framing.

How new

Genuinely new: reported on 5 November 2026, the day the inquiry released its findings.

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