Is AGL's 34 TWh data centre demand forecast higher than AEMO's?

Yes. AEMO currently estimates 29 TWh once data centres under construction or in development are built, while AGL's 6 May 2026 release projects demand could reach 34 TWh. The Australian Industry Group has separately flagged a 35 to 70 TWh range over five years.

What did CDC's Greg Boorer actually dispute?

Boorer disputed the aggregate demand figure, not the growth trajectory. He argued that a single hyperscaler enquiry is counted multiple times across utilities and developers, inflating headline pipeline numbers.

How big is the CDC 555 MW deal in context?

At 555 megawatts of contracted capacity, it represents approximately 40 percent of the power consumed by all Australian data centres in the 12 months to 31 December 2025.

Why does AGL prefer wind over solar plus batteries for data centre load?

AGL's stated view is that solar and storage cannot meet round the clock demand at the scale required. The counterview is that firmed solar plus batteries, combined with gas peakers, matches the 24/7 AI training profile at a lower levelised cost than wind, given Australian wind capacity factors of 30 to 35 percent.

AGL vs AEMO: Why Australia's Data Centre Power Demand Forecast Just Diverged by 5 TWh | Australia Data Centre Index

AGL chief executive Damien Nicks has told the market it is "sharply underestimating" data centre power demand, lifting the utility's internal forecast above AEMO's. The warning identifies real transmission and firming constraints, but the prescription, more wind generation, aligns closely with AGL's own capital allocation priorities.

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