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- Contact Energy (CEN) secures a contract to supply renewable energy to a proposed data centre in New Zealand
- Together with its energy solutions business, Simply Energy, the team will supply energy to operate a data centre being developed near the Clyde Dam
- The facility is being developed by UK-based digital infrastructure company Lake Parime and will be used for high-performance computing applications
- The synergy will reportedly work together to implement “demand flexibility” technology to control the centre’s operations
- Shares closed Tuesday’s session 1.2 per cent lower at $7.82
Contact Energy (CEN) has nabbed a contract to supply renewable energy to a proposed data centre in New Zealand.
CEN is an energy company focusing on the generation of electricity and the sale of electricity and gas in New Zealand.
The company owns and operates 11 power stations and produces 80-85 per cent of its electricity from its renewable hydro and geothermal stations.
Together with its energy solutions business, Simply Energy, the team will supply 10 megawatts of renewable energy to operate the planned low emissions data centre being developed near the Clyde Dam, New Zealand’s third largest hydroelectric dam.
The facility is being developed by UK-based digital infrastructure company Lake Parime with the aim of providing high-performance computing applications including machine learning, blockchain, visualisation, modelling and artificial intelligence.
The synergy will reportedly work together to implement “demand flexibility” technology to control the centre’s operations depending on electricity needs, weather and hydro generation water flows.
Director of Simply Energy, Murray Dyer predicts the centres electricity load to respond continuously.
“We need to ensure New Zealand’s energy needs continue to be met as demand for renewable energy increases, and as more of our energy is sourced from intermittent renewables like wind and solar.”
Contact sees benefits for data centres in New Zealand’s south island where the cooler climate is said to be of an advantage, and the company expects increasing interest from global companies searching for secure and clean renewable energy sources.
Mr Dyer also said resource consent for the data centre was underway following consultation with neighbours and, if approved, is expected to be operational by May 2022.
“We have a range of activity planned to reduce any impact of the data centre,” he said.
“This includes landscaping, paint colours, night lighting control and design to reduce visual impact and absorb noise.”
Shares closed Tuesday’s session 1.2 per cent lower at $7.82.
