Bendigo Entrepreneur Launches Low-Energy Data Centre for AI

GreenCore Solutions opened its modular data centre on Bridge Street on July 8, delivering a power usage effectiveness rating of 1.2 and cutting cooling costs by 35 percent compared with conventional sites.

The launch arrives as national attention focuses on data centre energy and water use, following a Guardian commentary that flagged AI facilities as a potential timebomb for regional grids and supply chains.

Local Partnerships

The facility sits two blocks from Rosalind Park and draws on fibre links installed along View Street by the City of Greater Bendigo’s digital precinct program. GreenCore has also signed a services agreement with Bendigo Bank’s technology arm to host secure transaction nodes, giving the bank a local redundancy option after the Telstra outage disrupted national networks earlier this week.

Construction used 180 locally fabricated modules and created 42 full-time roles, with the first 12 staff drawn from the Bendigo TAFE advanced manufacturing course that graduated its latest cohort in June.

Performance Metrics

Independent testing completed on July 7 showed the site handles 480 racks at an average 8.4 kilowatts each while using 22 percent less water than the industry median for similar loads. The $3.8 million build was financed through a mix of state regional development grants and private equity, with payback projected at 4.2 years based on current wholesale power prices in Victoria.

GreenCore plans to add a second hall on the same site by March 2027, expanding capacity to 720 racks. Businesses interested in colocation can book site tours through the company’s Bridge Street office or via the Greater Bendigo Chamber of Commerce weekly networking events held at the Capital Theatre.