IREN Announces Plans for 800MW Data Center Campus in South Australia

IREN announced plans for an 800-megawatt data center campus in South Australia on Wednesday. The project marks the company's first major Australian data center development and ranks among the largest AI infrastructure projects announced in the Asia-Pacific region.

The agreement secures a high-voltage grid connection capable of supporting up to 800MW of power without requiring major network upgrades.

Initial energization is targeted to begin in 2028, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions. The site will feature submarine fiber connectivity linking it to Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. IREN shares rose more than 4% in pre-market trading following the announcement.

Co-Founder and Co-CEO Daniel Roberts said the project combines access to abundant renewable energy, international connectivity and a supportive policy environment. South Australia is pushing toward 100% net renewable energy by 2027. The campus is expected to create more than 500 construction jobs and over 200 permanent skilled positions once operational.

Roberts said the company's long-term AI strategy is built on owning power, land and data centers. Management highlighted strong regional demand for AI infrastructure and a widening gap between projected computing needs and available capacity across Asia-Pacific.