Overview
- Anthropic signed the lease on Wednesday for capacity at the proposed Western Downs Digital Park that developers say totals about 2.1–2.16 gigawatts.
- Company sources and local reporting say the site is intended for inference workloads to power Anthropic’s Claude service rather than for training new AI models.
- Singapore-based developer Zerra DC is leading the project and plans to secure long-term renewable power purchase agreements, pay grid connection costs, use air-cooled systems to limit water use, and include on-site battery systems for stability.
- The deal must clear the Western Downs Regional Council planning process and FIRB approval, and it falls into a wider federal-state fight over data-centre energy rules after Queensland won flexibility to use a mixed energy mix.
- Locals and climate groups have raised concerns about water, land and electricity impacts and possible higher power prices, even as government and industry point to thousands of jobs and a wider A$150 billion investment opportunity by 2030.