Four planned hyperscale data centres could use gas-fired power

Four planned hyperscale data centres in the UK are considering using gas-fired power stations to meet electricity needs while awaiting grid connections, according to BBC File on 4 Investigates. During his Wednesday Budget speech, Chancellor John Healey confirmed that data centres would be permitted to build onsite power generation in such circumstances. However, environmental groups and officials have raised concerns regarding the impact on the UK’s 2050 net zero carbon emissions goals.

Calculations indicate that if these four facilities run continuously at full capacity, they would require 1.3 gigawatts of power and produce an estimated 4.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. This potential output exceeds the combined emissions of Manchester, Liverpool, and Southampton. Toby Perkins, chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, stated that a substantial increase in natural gas usage is not acceptable for the future.

Data centre developers are currently seeking grid connections totaling 72 gigawatts, far exceeding the 45 gigawatts of peak electricity demand recorded across the UK last year. Ofgem, the energy market regulator, notes that some developers face waiting times of up to 10 years for system upgrades. Specific projects, such as Acre Slough west of London, are considering gas engines with a generating capacity of up to 49.5 megawatts. Meanwhile, a proposed 200-megawatt gas station at Wapsey's Wood in Buckinghamshire could operate until 2040.

In response to these developments, the government introduced a British Data Centre Covenant. This requires operators to create local jobs and protect water supplies in exchange for priority grid connections. Despite this, critics like Oliver Hayes of the Global Action Plan warn that local communities could face significant noise, air pollution, and water supply strains from on-site gas turbines. Quest Park in Bedfordshire has also proposed a 1-gigawatt data centre, with director David Kohler stating the company's energy mix remains a work in progress.

What to watch: Government policy responses to the conflict between AI infrastructure demand and net zero targets.

Editor's note: Well-structured report that captures the key figures, locations, and tensions between data centre needs and net zero targets.