Tech firms turn to Tassie for big CPU stash
Tasmania’s naturally cool climate has grabbed the attention of global tech firms, who say it could be the perfect site for large data-centres.
Perth company Red Cloud has announced plans to build a $40 million data centre in Hobart next year.
Red Cloud chief executive Carl Woodbridge says Tasmania's cool climate is perfect for housing thousands of inter-linked computers.
“Computers exhaust a lot of heat and one of the highest operating costs for a data centre is power,” he told ABC reporters.
“Not just in the power that's consumed by working computers but in the power needed to cool computers.
“One of the advantages in sitting data centres in areas of low temperature is that you can capitalise on what's known as free air cooling, so we will consume a lot less power having a data centre in Tasmania than we would on the mainland.”
The proponents say the centre will boost new software development and provide high levels of data storage.
“I don't think that Tasmania's capitalised on its opportunity to fully develop technology on the island, and a reason for that is that a lot of companies prefer to develop it on the mainland and simply use Tasmanians as consumers,” Mr Woodbridge said.
Will Kestin from industry lobby Tas ICT says it is a good sign for Tasmania’s tech game.
“Both the cabling underneath Bass Strait and the onset of the NBN [are] being completed much more quickly — and we have been long detractors for the slow progress — so it shows a confidence within the opportunities for Tasmania,” he said.
“It's a wonderful announcement to hear that yet another organisation is bringing that tier quality of tech centre down to Tasmania.”
Premier Will Hodgman claimed it as a vote of confidence in the state’s economic management.
“It shows that Tasmania's a place to invest. It's evidence of Tasmania being an attractive place to support modern, economies, modern businesses,” he said.
Red Cloud is in negotiations over a suitable site for the centre.