AI Data Centres Threaten UK Net Zero with Gas Power — SkimNews
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- AI data centres could produce 4.1 million tonnes of CO2 annually if four planned sites run on gas, exceeding emissions from Manchester, Liverpool, and Southampton combined.
- Ofgem reports data centre developers are seeking 72 gigawatts of grid connections, far surpassing the UK’s 45-gigawatt peak demand last year.
- Chancellor John Healey announced a British Data Centre Covenant allowing on-site power generation where grid access is unavailable, during the Budget speech.
- Nathan McWhinnie of Ofgem stated many areas of the grid are at capacity, with some data centre projects demanding power equivalent to entire cities.
- Toby Perkins, chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, warned that relying on natural gas for data centres is incompatible with the UK’s environmental future.
- Quest Park in Bedfordshire plans a 1-gigawatt data centre, equivalent to the power needs of 250,000 homes, while exploring feasible renewable alternatives.
- David Kohler of Quest Park said building 1 gigawatt of solar would require land covering 15% of Bedfordshire, making it impractical without major trade-offs.
Why it matters: The UK’s push to host AI infrastructure risks locking in fossil fuel use at a national scale, as 72 gigawatts of requested power far exceed current grid capacity. If gas-powered stopgaps become widespread, local emissions, water use, and noise could undermine net zero commitments while benefiting tech firms over communities.
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