Gas-powered AI data centres could undercut UK net zero goals
Four planned giant data centres in the UK are looking at gas-fired power while they wait for a grid link, according to BBC News. The BBC's own sums suggest they could emit more carbon each year than Manchester, Liverpool and Southampton combined. A senior MP said heavy use of gas "can't be the future".
Four planned "hyperscale" data centres in the UK are already looking at gas-fired power to meet their needs, according to BBC News. The BBC's File on 4 Investigates team found the plans. Three of the sites are in the south of England.
In last week's Budget, Chancellor John Healey said data centres could build their own power on site while they wait for a grid connection, the BBC reports. He also set out a British Data Centre Covenant. It asks operators to invest in local areas in return for priority grid links.
If the four sites ran at full capacity, they would need 1.3 gigawatts of power, the BBC calculated. They could produce an estimated 4.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year. That could be more than Manchester, Liverpool and Southampton combined, the BBC says.
The regulator Ofgem says developers are seeking grid connections totalling 72 gigawatts. Peak demand across the whole country last year was 45 gigawatts. "These projects are sometimes the size of cities," said Nathan McWhinnie of Ofgem.
The plans vary in size, the BBC reports. At Wapsey's Wood in Buckinghamshire, a proposed 200-megawatt gas plant could run until the grid has room, which is not expected until 2040. At Acre Slough, west of London, developers expect to wait at least 10 years for a grid link.
Labour MP Toby Perkins, who chairs the Environmental Audit Select Committee, said a big rise in the use of gas "can't be the future". All four projects say they plan to join the grid when it can meet their needs.
The government said any power built on site would be tightly controlled, time-limited and allowed only for very strategic projects. "Data centres are essential to Britain's economy, supporting everything from online banking to NHS services," a spokesperson said.
Only BBC News has reported this so far, and NewsHabit hasn't seen independent confirmation.
What we know: Four planned data centres are looking at gas power while they wait for the grid.
What we don't: Whether planners will approve the gas plans, and how long any of them would run.
Where outlets agree This is one outlet's report, with BBC News saying four planned UK data centres are considering gas-fired power while they wait for grid connections.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.