Backup generators keep a data centre running when the grid fails. On Australian hyperscale campuses they are installed in very large numbers: 340 in NEXTDC's S7 application at Eastern Creek, and between 842 and 852 in the Mamre Road campus application at Kemps Creek. They are also the part of a data centre that draws the most planning scrutiny, because of emissions, noise and fuel storage.
The Role of Generators in Data Centres
When grid power is lost, UPS systems carry the IT load for seconds to minutes. Generators start, synchronise and take over the load for as long as the outage lasts. The generator package covers:
- Generator sets: engines, alternators, controls and enclosures
- Paralleling switchgear: synchronising multiple units onto a common bus
- Fuel systems: bulk storage tanks, day tanks, transfer pumps and polishing
- Exhaust and acoustic treatment: stacks, silencers and acoustic enclosures to meet noise conditions
- Emissions controls: where required by consent or EPA licence conditions
- Controls integration with the electrical and building management systems
Key Infrastructure Requirements
Redundancy
Generator fleets are sized so the facility can carry full critical load with one or more units unavailable (N+1 or higher), often per data hall or block.
Fuel storage
Storage is sized for a defined runtime, with refuelling arrangements for longer outages. Volumes are large: the original Mamre Road campus application listed 14,430 kL of diesel storage, and an amended version reported by Urban Digest listed 15,842 kL. Storage design brings in dangerous goods, bunding and fire safety requirements.
Alternative fuels
Operators are looking at renewable diesel (HVO), which can often run in existing diesel engines, and at reducing generator runtime by using batteries. The federal Expectations and state frameworks on emissions add pressure to reduce diesel use.
Load testing
Generators are tested regularly under load, often against load banks, to prove they will start and carry load. Testing schedules are a common planning condition. Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese asked for Mamre Road campus generator testing to happen outside school hours and peak outdoor activity periods.
Maintenance
Planned maintenance, fuel quality management, battery and starter checks, and periodic full-load tests.
Commissioning
Factory witness tests, site acceptance tests, then integrated systems testing that simulates utility failure across the whole electrical system.
Australian Generator Suppliers
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| Type | Typical scope |
|---|---|
| Generator OEMs and distributors | Supply, factory testing, warranty |
| Installation and integration contractors | Placement, paralleling, exhaust, acoustic |
| Fuel system specialists | Tanks, pumps, polishing, refuelling contracts |
| Load bank providers | Commissioning and periodic testing |
| Maintenance providers | Service contracts with guaranteed response times |
Selecting a Supplier
- Production slots and lead times. Large generator orders need early commitment. Ask about delivery windows and the supplier's order book.
- Emissions and acoustic compliance with the consent conditions and EPA licence, including testing regimes.
- Paralleling experience at the scale of the campus.
- Service network: technicians and parts near the site, and refuelling logistics.
- Fuel flexibility: compatibility with renewable diesel.
Current Project Demand
| Project | Generators (public documents) | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Mamre Road campus | 842–852 (by document version) | Amended SSD |
| NEXTDC S7 | 340 | Prepare EIS |
| STACK SYD01 | 188 (as reported at SEARs) | More information required |
| CDC KC1 | Backup diesel generators (number not stated) | SEARs |
Planning submissions on Western Sydney projects repeatedly raise generator testing, air quality and diesel storage. Objections to Goodman's Project Atlas include technical concerns about generator testing thresholds and environmental protection licensing. Suppliers who can show low-emission options, acoustic performance and well-managed testing regimes answer the questions planners are asking.
Relevant Data Centre Projects
Western Sydney projects · All projects · Data centre power
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Generator orders are placed early, often before a head contractor is appointed. AISB helps generator suppliers identify projects at the planning stage and reach the developers and engineers who specify backup power.
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