IREN announced plans for an 800MW AI data center campus in Bundey, South Australia, marking the company’s first announced Australian data center project and one of the largest AI infrastructure developments announced in the Asia-Pacific region. The company has signed a transmission connection agreement securing access to four 330kV feeder exits at a nearby utility substation, enabling up to 800MW of capacity without requiring network upgrades.
The proposed campus is located approximately 78 miles (126 km) northeast of Adelaide and is expected to begin energization from 2028. IREN said the site combines access to large-scale power infrastructure with submarine fiber connectivity linking Australia to key Asia-Pacific markets, including Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan. The company expects the project to create more than 500 construction jobs and over 200 permanent skilled positions.
The announcement extends IREN’s strategy of developing AI cloud infrastructure in regions with abundant power availability and renewable energy resources. South Australia has set a target of achieving 100% net renewable energy generation by 2027, positioning the region as a potential hub for large-scale AI compute deployments serving both domestic and international demand.
• 800MW planned AI data center campus at Bundey, South Australia
• First announced Australian data center project for IREN
• Four 330kV feeder exits secured through transmission connection agreement
• Capacity expected to be supported without major network upgrades
• Initial energization targeted for 2028
• Direct submarine fiber connectivity to major Asia-Pacific markets
• More than 500 construction jobs and 200 ongoing skilled positions expected
• Site positioned to serve growing AI demand across the Asia-Pacific region
“South Australia offers what AI infrastructure at scale requires: abundant clean energy, the connectivity to serve the APAC region, and a State Government that understands the opportunity and is acting on it,” said Daniel Roberts, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of IREN.
🌐 Analysis: The Bundey announcement reflects a broader shift in AI infrastructure development toward regions that can offer both large blocks of power and access to international fiber routes. While North America remains the largest market for AI training clusters, operators increasingly are evaluating Australia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe as alternative locations capable of supporting multi-hundred-megawatt AI campuses.
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| IREN Limited (NASDAQ: IREN) — Corporate & Expansion Profile | |
|---|---|
| Corporate Profile | |
| Headquarters | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Founded | 2018 (Formerly known as Iris Energy Limited) |
| Leadership | Daniel Roberts (Co-Founder & Co-CEO), Will Roberts (Co-Founder & Co-CEO) |
| Business Focus | Vertically integrated AI Cloud provider delivering hyperscale data centers, GPU infrastructure, and AI training/inference services. |
| Core Strategy | Developing large-scale AI infrastructure on owned, grid-connected sites located in renewable-rich regions with abundant power availability. |
| Global Platform | North America (Texas, British Columbia), Europe (Spain platform via Nostrum platform), and Asia-Pacific (Australia pipeline). |
| Bundey, South Australia Expansion | |
| Latest Expansion | Planned 800MW AI data center campus (marks IREN’s first announced project in Australia). |
| Location | Bundey, South Australia (approximately 78 miles / 126 km northeast of Adelaide). |
| Power Infrastructure | Transmission connection agreement secured with four 330kV feeder exits; supports up to 800MW capacity without network upgrades. |
| Expected Energization | Phased commencement beginning in 2028. |
| Connectivity Advantage | Submarine fiber connectivity routing directly to major APAC demand centers including Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan. |
| Energy Profile | Directly integrated into the South Australian power grid, which is on track to target 100% net renewable energy generation by 2027. |
| Economic Impact | Projected to create more than 500 regional construction jobs and over 200 permanent high-skilled operational positions. |
| Strategic Significance | First announced major Australian AI data center campus; stands among the largest single-site AI infrastructure developments in the APAC region. |
