Analysis: CO2 from UK data centres could be ‘hundreds of times’ higher than thought
Why it matters: The UK's AI ambitions could drastically inflate carbon emissions, threatening climate targets.
- Carbon Brief analysis projects data center emissions could be significantly higher than government figures, particularly if gas-fired electricity is used.
- UK government analysis concluded that data center emissions would be negligible, even with rapid expansion, a claim a campaigner calls "nonsense."
- 71 new data centers are financially committed, requiring an estimated 20GW of electricity, a substantial increase compared to the UK's average 2025 demand of 37GW.
- Energy secretary Ed Miliband states new data centers are captured in overall electricity demand growth modeling, but the government's 2035 climate plan did not factor in AI growth for emissions projections.
- Campaigners and some MPs express concern that the increased electricity demand from data centers could prolong the use of gas power if clean energy growth doesn't keep pace.
New analysis by Carbon Brief suggests that CO2 emissions from UK data centers, crucial for the nation's AI ambitions, could be "hundreds of times" higher than government estimates, potentially jeopardizing climate goals. While the government considers these emissions negligible and believes new data centers are covered in overall electricity demand modeling, campaigners and Carbon Brief argue this is a severe underestimate, especially if even a small amount of their power comes from gas.
