UK AI Data Centres May Run on Gas Amid Grid Delays — SkimNews
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- UK government announced a British Data Centre Covenant allowing developers to generate on-site power if grid connections are unavailable, citing economic necessity and strategic growth
- Four planned hyperscale data centres, including sites in Slough, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Cardiff, are considering gas-fired power while awaiting grid connections that could take up to 10 years
- Ofgem reported data centre developers have requested 72 gigawatts of grid connections, far exceeding the UK’s peak demand of 45 gigawatts last year
- Toby Perkins, chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, warned that widespread use of natural gas for data centres 'can't be the future' and criticized unchecked developer freedom
- Oliver Hayes of Global Action Plan highlighted local impacts, including air pollution, noise, and water use, if gas turbines are installed near communities
- David Kohler of Quest Park acknowledged renewable feasibility challenges, noting 1 gigawatt of solar would require 15% of Bedfordshire’s land area
- Government spokesperson emphasized data centres are essential to the economy and that on-site generation would be tightly controlled, time-limited, and only for strategic projects
Why it matters: The UK risks overshooting its net zero target by enabling fossil-fuel-powered data centres during grid delays, with proposed gas plants potentially emitting more than three major cities combined—putting climate goals and local environments under strain while prioritizing digital infrastructure investment.
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