{"id":186687,"date":"2025-11-18T07:13:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T07:13:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/186687\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T07:13:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T07:13:07","slug":"on-tiny-christmas-island-google-spurs-renewable-energy-push-for-indian-ocean-data-hub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/186687\/","title":{"rendered":"On tiny Christmas Island, Google spurs renewable energy push for Indian Ocean data hub"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul data-testid=\"Summary\" class=\"summary-module__summary__QjADA\">\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Google and miner want switch to renewables for island&#8217;s energy<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Data hub will be part of new cable system across Indian Ocean<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Tech giant says data hub focussed on connectivity, local storage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>SYDNEY, Nov 18 (Reuters) &#8211; Australia&#8217;s remote Indian Ocean outpost of Christmas Island has enough power to support a new Google data centre without depriving locals, but its arrival could spur a push to renewable energy, the island&#8217;s biggest employer and the tech giant said.<\/p>\n<p>Alphabet&#8217;s <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/GOOGL.O\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(GOOGL.O), opens new tab<\/a> Google announced on Monday it will build a data hub on the tiny island located 350 km (220 miles) south of Indonesia, confirming a <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/google-planning-powerful-ai-data-centre-tiny-australian-indian-ocean-outpost-2025-11-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Reuters report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> Sign up  <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/climate-energy\/tiny-christmas-island-google-spurs-renewable-energy-push-indian-ocean-data-hub-2025-11-18\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fsustainability%2Fclimate-energy%2Ftiny-christmas-island-google-spurs-renewable-energy-push-indian-ocean-data-hub-2025-11-18%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It said it would also build a subsea cable system connecting Christmas Island to the Maldives and Oman, with two new data hubs to &#8220;deepen the resilience of internet infrastructure in the Indian Ocean Region&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Google&#8217;s plans had raised concern there would not be enough power to meet the needs of locals, the island&#8217;s phosphate mine and the data centre, but Phosphate Resources chief executive, Nicholas Gan, said supply was ample for now.<\/p>\n<p>The phosphate company, which employs half the island&#8217;s population of 1,600, imports diesel to run a power generator that supplies the mine and meets Australian defence force needs.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The power grid can supply both Google&#8217;s requirements and our requirements comfortably,&#8221; Gan said.<\/p>\n<p>Capacity would be strained, however, if the island&#8217;s detention centre for asylum seekers or a shuttered resort were to reopen, he said, adding that Google&#8217;s arrival bolsters the case for switching to renewable energy, which would be cheaper than importing diesel.<\/p>\n<p>Australia&#8217;s infrastructure department is in discussions with Google to ensure its energy requirements are met without impacting supply to Christmas Island&#8217;s residents and businesses.<\/p>\n<p>BOOM-BUST CYCLE ON REMOTE ISLANDAnother two planned Google <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/australias-aukus-base-connect-subsea-cables-us-allies-boost-ai-pipes-2025-11-13\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">subsea cables stretching<\/a> east from Christmas Island will land near key Australian military bases, Reuters previously reported. Military experts say such a facility on the island would be valuable for using AI drones to monitor Chinese submarine activity.<\/p>\n<p>Google said the island&#8217;s data hub would be smaller than some other Google data centres, and it would share its digital infrastructure with local users.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The power required for a connectivity hub can still be a lot for some smaller locations, and where it is, Google is exploring using its power demand to accelerate local investment in sustainable energy generation,&#8221; its statement said.<\/p>\n<p>A member of the island&#8217;s economic future working group, Gan said Google&#8217;s project will bring economic activity to an island 1,600 km from mainland Australia, with a history of boom and bust cycles, as it faced &#8220;the last era for mining&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>About 23 years ago, Australia and Russia planned to build a commercial spaceport on Christmas Island, but it prompted concern from Indonesia and was never opened, Australian parliament records show.<\/p>\n<p>A casino that opened in 1993 attracted high rollers arriving by private jet from Jakarta but closed five years later amid an Asian economic downturn, the records show.<\/p>\n<p>A detention centre for asylum seekers trying to reach Australia by boat dominated the island for two decades, until a shift in Australia&#8217;s immigration policy saw it largely emptied in 2023.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by Sonali Paul<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Google and miner want switch to renewables for island&#8217;s energy Data hub will be part of new cable&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":186688,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[269],"tags":[82519,2786,82703,82708,82709,84442,82500,1802,83800,104903,82543,82538,82545,88440,82546,82535,82549,82541,82550,82776,82553,82536,83391,82530,83393,82531,83620,82529,82555,82542,83392,82777,82547,82557,82537,82540,82554,82552,82548,82551,101633,18,55396,82578,7520,83371,440,45748,19,2761,17,84108,84447,84449,63010,84450,82565,104904,82524,82799,45751,104905,83810,82510,83604,104902,83612,83606,83616,82791,82792,86741,84116,133,82773,83801,82800,15170,84117,82801,753,84119,30150,88592,83617,83366,84438,83367,107],"class_list":["post-186687","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-amers","tag-asia","tag-asxpac","tag-au","tag-aunz","tag-bmat","tag-cmpny","tag-com","tag-cwp","tag-cx","tag-destabn","tag-destabx","tag-destafa","tag-destauf","tag-destbnx","tag-destcsa","tag-destdnp","tag-deste","tag-destfun","tag-destg","tag-destgns","tag-destlby","tag-desto","tag-destocabsm","tag-destoil","tag-destousbsm","tag-destousnrg","tag-destoustcm","tag-destpco","tag-destpcu","tag-destpen","tag-destpge","tag-destpsc","tag-destrbn","tag-destreulb","tag-destrnp","tag-destrws","tag-destrwsa","tag-destu","tag-destucdptest","tag-divmin","tag-eire","tag-emea","tag-emrg","tag-energy","tag-enr","tag-environment","tag-gen","tag-ie","tag-in","tag-ireland","tag-meast","tag-memi","tag-min","tag-mine","tag-mtal","tag-mtpix","tag-mv","tag-namer","tag-netsv","tag-nrg","tag-om","tag-privt","tag-publ","tag-pwr","tag-pwrl","tag-repigrid-infrastructure","tag-rnw","tag-rsbiclean-energy","tag-rulesmagnificent-seven","tag-rulesmarkets-google","tag-rulesworld-australia","tag-sasia","tag-science","tag-seasia","tag-secur","tag-srchen","tag-sustainable-business","tag-swasia","tag-swit","tag-tech","tag-tglf","tag-tmt","tag-tnpt","tag-topicenergy-transition","tag-topicmarkets-commodities-energy","tag-topicmarkets-commodities-metals","tag-topicsustasinability-the-switch","tag-us"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186687","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=186687"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/186687\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/186688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=186687"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=186687"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=186687"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}