A massive new power user could put extra pressure on the South Island’s electricity system.
Datagrid has just received resource consent for a $3 billion, 78 thousand square metre data centre north of Invercargill.
About 1,200 jobs will work on the construction and about 50 people will staff the facility.
It will be the second-largest power user in the country behind the nearby Tiwai Aluminium Smelter.
Auckland University computer science lecturer Ulrich Speidel told Mike Hosking it's going to shift the power balance in the South Island quite a bit.
He says in terms of power use, that’s about 70% of what Christchurch consumes, and you can’t just add major power users without eventually running into generation limits.
LISTEN ABOVE

Mark the Week: Is this a new low for Trump?
02:30

Mike's Minute: It hasn't been a good week for Labour
02:21

Wrapping the Week with Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson: Voting bribes, bucket lists, and fun money
11:06