BBC finds planned AI data centres could undermine UK net‑zero goals
techNov 3, 202647220
BBC File on 4 Investigates found four planned hyperscale AI data centres are considering on-site gas-fired power to meet electricity needs, a move that the report says could undermine the UK government's net zero by 2050 ambition. Chancellor John Healey announced in the Budget that data centres may build on-site generation while they wait for grid connections and introduced a British Data Centre Covenant setting expectations for developers. Ofgem says developers are seeking connections totalling 72 gigawatts while national peak demand last year was 45 gigawatts, and some projects may wait up to 10 years for grid upgrades. BBC calculations show the four sites would require about 1.3 gigawatts if running continuously and could emit an estimated 4.1 million tonnes of CO2 a year, more than the cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Southampton combined. Nathan McWhinnie of Ofgem warned that in many places the grid is at capacity and these projects can be the size of cities. Labour MP Toby Perkins, chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, said a substantial increase in natural gas use cannot be the future. The government said data centres are essential to Britain’s economy and that the covenant requires operators to pay a fair share of system costs and deliver local benefits.
