Research by Deloitte released in Australia has shown the nation will need to price carbon-per-tonne at AU$40 if its plans for carbon trading are to work.

 

The government, however, has said that the price of carbon under a trading scheme is likely to be closer to its original estimates of $20 to $30 a tonne.

 

Most recent figures show data centers in Australia use 2bn to 3bn KW of electricity each year – and this number is set to increase with the amount of data center construction underway and planned for the country in coming years. Overall, it makes up 1.5% of Australia’s national electricity capacity.

 

The Australian Government has made its intentions for a carbon tax, and surrounding trading economy clear – it plans to bring the carbon tax into play in July next year.

 

The Deloitte report said that pricing would have to start at $40 a tonne, otherwise black coal generation would still prevail, with a carbon tax not making enough to supplement additional gas generation costs.

 

Opposition Greens senator Christine Milne told Australia’s ABC news online that even AU$40 would be too low.

 

"It is not a high enough price to bring on renewable energy at a large scale, like solar thermal," Milne said.