Firmus Wins Approval for 26 MW AI Facility in Tasmania

Firmus Technologies received council approval to convert a warehouse at the former Wesley Vale pulp mill in Tasmania into an AI computing and research facility with a capacity of 26 megawatts, ABC News reports. The company will use the site to test how computing infrastructure can respond to electricity grid conditions and how batteries could reduce reliance on diesel generators.

Latrobe Council staff approved the application without public advertising or a councillor vote because it met the relevant use classification under Tasmania's planning scheme. Outgoing mayor Peter Freshney said the process followed existing rules, but argued that the scheme does not provide adequate assessment for emerging technology projects.

Firmus expects construction to create about 70 jobs, with 20 ongoing roles once the facility begins operating. The company plans to use dry cooling for most of the year and estimates annual cooling water use at about 224,000 litres, sourced mainly from rainwater collected on site.

Firmus also plans a separate AI data centre with a capacity of 26 megawatts at Wesley Vale. Latrobe Council has asked the Tasmanian government to assess that proposal as a major project.