Allens has advised IREN on its transmission connection agreement for its first Australian data centre campus, a planned 800MW campus in Bundey, South Australia.
IREN is a vertically integrated AI cloud provider, delivering large-scale data centers and GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and power in renewable-rich regions across North America, Europe and APAC.
The project is one of the largest AI infrastructure developments announced in the Asia-Pacific region, and will benefit from high-voltage transmission access and submarine fibre connectivity into key Asia-Pacific markets.
Under the connection agreement, the campus will secure four 330kV feeder exits at the utility’s substation which are planned to support up to 800MW of capacity. Energisation is expected to commence from 2028.
Allens advised on all aspects of the grid connection arrangements for the project, including related regulatory and project development issues.
‘Along with rapidly increasing demand for large-scale data centre capacity, this agreement reflects the importance of securing a clear and scalable connection strategy early in the development process,’ said lead partner Karla Drinkwater.
‘We’re seeing a significant uptick in projects seeking connection to the Australian grid, particularly those supporting AI and high-performance computing demand. As developers pursue staged expansion of increasingly large and complex projects, navigating the Australian connection process has become a critical component of successful delivery.’
Allens is a leading adviser across the full data centre lifecycle, from site and structuring through to financing and construction. The firm previously advised La Caisse on its landmark $1.7bn commitment in NEXTDC hybrid securities, Blackstone on its US$10bn financing of Firmus Group, Keppel on its proposed 720MW data centre campus and Stockland on its data centre capital partnership.
