en.Wedoany.com Reported - Malaysian energy company Gamuda Renewables has acquired a large-scale solar-battery hybrid project in Australia and plans to further expand its capacity to accommodate and power a co-located data center.

Gamuda, a major real estate and infrastructure developer in Malaysia, is currently developing two approved wind and solar projects in Tasmania's Central Highlands. This acquisition of the Hazelwood North Solar Farm and Battery Project marks its first entry into the Victorian market.

The project is located in the heart of Victoria's Latrobe Valley, a former hub for brown coal power plants, near the now-closed Hazelwood coal-fired power station.

The project has received approval for a 450-megawatt (MW) solar farm and a 4-hour battery energy storage system (1800 MWh), with construction planned to begin in 2028. Gamuda and the original project owner, Manthos Investments, stated that they are considering expanding the project's scale to accommodate a co-located data center.

Jarred Hardman, Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Gamuda Renewables, said the project represents a significant milestone for the company, not only as its first asset in Victoria but also because it accurately captures the direction of the energy transition. The team is excited about the opportunity to expand the project to include a data center. Combining large-scale renewable energy generation and storage with the increasingly electricity-dependent digital infrastructure is a compelling model, and they look forward to advancing its implementation in the coming months.

Gamuda is already developing the adjacent 200MW Weasel Solar Farm and 350MW Cellars Hill Wind Farm (with battery) projects in Tasmania in partnership with local landowners. Both projects have secured agreements under the federal government's Capacity Investment Scheme.

The company stated that its initial target was to secure up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in Australia by 2029, a goal it has now exceeded. It currently plans to acquire 5 GW of assets by 2031. Additionally, the company has secured Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) rights for the 900MW Oven Mountain pumped storage hydro project and the 750MW Capricornia pumped storage project.

Both companies stated that the Hazelwood North project will create approximately 450 local jobs during the construction phase. This has positive economic implications for a region with a long industrial heritage and a workforce capable of playing a central role in Australia's energy future. George Labros of Manthos said the project combines Gamuda Renewables' capabilities, the valley's energy assets, and the expanding scale of data centers, bringing sustained economic uplift to the Latrobe Valley and surrounding communities.

Gamuda stated that the co-located data center could be directly powered by the on-site solar farm and battery energy storage system, making it more independent from the broader distribution network and using the battery as a "shock absorber" during periods of low and high demand. The company said this model reduces pressure on shared transmission infrastructure and offers data center operators a differentiated solution for clean, dedicated, and reliable power.

This battery is one of several battery projects proposed for the Latrobe Valley region. The area already has the 150MW, 150MWh Hazelwood battery, EnergyAustralia is building the 350MW, 1400MWh Woreen battery, and Tag Energy last week received planning approval for a 1000MW, 4000MWh battery near Morwell.

The acquisition is subject to approval from Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Neither party disclosed the size of the stake Gamuda is acquiring in this transaction or the financial details.

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