Quantum DC has proposed a 1.2GW data center and energy hub on 220 hectares at Tungkillo in South Australia. The site sits about 55 kilometres east of Adelaide, and the developer plans three s
Featured: Wide landscape overview photograph of the rural Tungkillo area where Quantum DC proposes its 1.2GW hub.tages, with the first due to begin operating in 2028 and full build-out in 2031.
Quantum DC's published project information describes a hyperscale campus with dedicated generation. Quantum DC develops and would own the hub. The project description does not name a tenant or disclose an offtake agreement for the compute capacity. Quantum DC says it will contract new wind and solar generation from elsewhere in South Australia and build gas turbines on site to firm supply when renewable output is low.
The 220-hectare site covers five land parcels at 312 Collins Road. Quantum DC intends to develop about 120 hectares and leave 100 hectares undeveloped for grazing. Two new substations would connect the hub to the ElectraNet 275kV transmission line that crosses the property. Wind and solar would supply about 80% of the hub's electricity and on-site gas about 20%, according to the developer. W.Media reported that local reporting put the gas-fired capacity at 400MW, a figure Quantum DC's published description does not state. The developer says on-site generation would also supply electricity into the grid at times.
The campus would use closed-loop, direct-to-chip liquid cooling with air-cooled heat rejection. Quantum DC estimates operational water use at about 20 megalitres a year, mainly from rainwater collected on building roofs, with 150 to 250 megalitres needed during construction. The developer says it does not propose a permanent connection to SA Water's mains or a direct take from the River Murray.
The proposal has drawn opposition from residents and farmers in the Mid Murray district, who cite effects on the rural landscape, agriculture, wildlife, noise, light and water. The ABC reported that Tungkillo sits just within the borders of the River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, an internationally accredited area protected from light pollution. A Quantum DC spokesperson told the ABC the site is more than 5 kilometres outside the reserve. "When you go out on a fine night, it feels like you could reach up into the skies and pull down a star if you wanted to," said Magdalene Lippett, a Tungkillo resident. "The sound from these things would travel. We are worried about the sound coming into our homes, disturbing our animals."
The site is near a separately approved 270MW/1,080MWh battery storage project at Tungkillo, which Quantum DC says is separate from its application. 7NEWS reported that residents have organised a petition and want deeper scrutiny of the planning pathway. Quantum DC plans to consult locally through two community drop-in sessions before submitting a formal application. "We must understand the concerns of the community, how we can be of benefit, and how we coexist with the community for the next 30 years and beyond," said Alby Tomassi, chief executive of Quantum DC. Quantum DC says the hub would create hundreds of jobs during construction and operation.
Quantum DC intends to lodge a development application through South Australia's Essential Infrastructure assessment pathway. The state government said it has not received a formal application or documentation for the project. A public notification period of at least 15 business days would run, and the State Commission Assessment Panel would review the proposal and public submissions before advising the Minister for Planning, who makes the final decision. Baxtel tracks 13 data center facilities in South Australia, operated by 10 providers and totaling 20 MW. The largest is DCI Data Centers' Adelaide ADL02 site at 6 MW.
Quantum DC is holding drop-in sessions at the Tungkillo Soldiers Memorial Hall on 29 October and the Mannum Leisure Centre on 31 October, ahead of lodging its application.
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