Australian thermal energy storage company 1414 Degrees has signed a Heads of Agreement (HoA) with an undisclosed data centre operator to develop up to 1 GW of AI data centre infrastructure at its Aurora Energy Precinct near Port Augusta, South Australia. The project will combine renewable energy generation, battery energy storage and grid infrastructure to support large-scale AI computing facilities.
Under the agreement, the data centre operator has secured exclusive access to an initial 40-hectare site within Aurora’s 15.8 sq km energy precinct. The location offers up to 900 MW of solar generation potential, an approved 140 MW/280 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), high-voltage transmission infrastructure, and access to fibre and water.
The project will be developed in three phases. The first phase involves a 17 MW starter campus powered through an existing 33 kV grid connection. The second phase will expand to a 200 MW campus following the completion of a 275 kV transmission connection, while the final phase aims to scale the development to 1 GW as renewable generation capacity at the Aurora precinct increases.
Under the proposed structure, 1414 Degrees will provide land, renewable power, battery storage, grid connectivity and precinct services, while the data centre partner will invest in and operate the AI infrastructure.
The company said it will now negotiate definitive agreements covering land access, behind-the-meter renewable energy supply, battery storage, transmission connectivity and other shared infrastructure. It will also continue working with SA Power Networks and ElectraNet to progress grid connection arrangements.
Executive Chairman Dr Kevin Moriarty said the agreement validates the company’s strategy of attracting energy-intensive industries to a renewable-powered energy hub. He noted that the existing 33 kV connection enables early project development while larger transmission and renewable energy infrastructure are completed.
The announcement follows a significant regulatory milestone achieved in January 2026, when the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) approved the Generator Performance Standards (GPS) for Aurora’s 140 MW/280 MWh BESS. The approval allows the battery system to connect to the grid, finalise transmission agreements and advance commercial power purchase negotiations.
While the site’s anchor battery storage system will use conventional battery technology, the broader Aurora Energy Precinct will also host a pilot deployment of 1414 Degrees’ proprietary SiBox thermal energy storage technology. The company’s molten silicon-based storage system is designed for long-duration energy storage and high-temperature industrial heat applications, complementing battery energy storage rather than replacing it.
The project comes as Australia introduces new regulatory requirements for large-scale data centres, including obligations to support new renewable energy generation and strengthen grid reliability. As demand for AI infrastructure grows, projects integrating renewable energy and energy storage are expected to play a key role in delivering reliable, low-carbon power for next-generation data centres.
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