Perth-based Pilot Energy is set to enhance its cash flow by launching the Dongara Data Centre project at its Arrowsmith facility in Western Australia. The company confirmed that the modular data centre is on schedule for commissioning in early March 2026, with an initial capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) planned to expand to 4 MW by mid-2026. This facility will be the first operational data centre in the Mid West region, likely ranking among Western Australia’s top ten data centres by power capacity.
The project is a result of a strategic partnership with UAE-based Kala Data FZCO, which will oversee the installation and operation of the modular data centre utilizing Pilot’s existing gas-fired 4.4 MW generators. The management team will operate the data centre, enabling Pilot to monetize its current infrastructure without significant additional overhead costs.
Brad Lingo, managing director of Pilot Energy, emphasized the project’s importance, stating, “The Dongara Data Centre project represents an important step towards generating revenue and maximising the value of our existing infrastructure at Arrowsmith.” He noted that the initial installation of the 1 MW modular unit, with plans for expansion to 4 MW, positions Pilot as a pioneer in the Mid West’s data centre landscape.
Strategic Expansion and Infrastructure Development
Pilot Energy and Kala are also exploring the potential to scale the data centre’s capacity to between 30 MW and 35 MW. This expansion could take place at either the Arrowsmith site or the Three Springs Solar project, adding strategic value and creating a more extensive data and energy platform over time. Currently, execution planning is well underway, with the first 1 MW data centre module and its immersion thermal management systems already assembled in Shenzhen, China, awaiting shipment to the WA Port of Kwinana.
At the Arrowsmith site, Pilot has completed site assessments and identified optimal locations for the staged rollout of multiple modules. Minor civil works for the first module are set to commence next month, with electrical installation and module activation scheduled for early March, ahead of a targeted operational start by the end of the month. Once operational, the data centre will connect to international communications networks through a Starlink satellite connection.
Pending satisfactory operational and financial performance, Pilot and Kala plan to proceed with the expansion to 4 MW, which would position Dongara as potentially the seventh-largest data centre in Western Australia by power capacity.
Filling a Regional Infrastructure Gap
Data centres, which process, store, and manage digital information, are essential in today’s digital age. They can vary significantly in size, from small facilities under 500 square metres to massive hyperscale centres exceeding 100,000 square metres. The demand for data centre energy is projected to grow nearly fivefold over the next decade, according to the Climate Council of Australia.
Currently, the Mid West lacks any operational data centres, despite being served by fibre-optic infrastructure from Vocus Group. Pilot Energy aims to address this regional infrastructure gap while leveraging its proximity to existing energy assets. The company’s strategy involves co-locating the data centre with solar generation and large-scale batteries, positioning it as a renewable energy hub. This approach is expected to reduce emissions, lower operating costs, and ease pressure on local power networks, ultimately contributing to greater energy independence.
With commissioning just weeks away and expansion plans already mapped out, Pilot Energy’s Dongara Data Centre is poised to become a key player in the transition toward clean energy and carbon storage initiatives in Western Australia.
