The rapid expansion of data centres in the UK, driven by increasing digitalisation and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), presents a significant challenge to the nation's climate goals. New analysis reveals that two planned data centres alone are projected to emit more carbon annually than ExxonMobil's entire UK operations.1 This finding raises urgent questions about energy infrastructure and policy.
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Projected impact of new developments
Data centres are energy-intensive facilities, crucial for powering everything from online banking to AI innovations. However, their escalating energy demands are leading to a substantial increase in carbon emissions, prompting concerns about their environmental impact. Analysis by the non-profit group Foxglove indicates that two forthcoming data centres in England - Wapseys Wood in Buckinghamshire and Quest Park in Bedfordshire - are projected to emit over 4.5 million tonnes of carbon annually when fully operational. These facilities are expected to require approximately 1.3 GW of electricity.
Comparison with other major emitters
The projected annual emissions from just these two data centres, at over 4.5 million tonnes, surpass the 3.9 million tonnes attributed to ExxonMobil's UK operations in 2023. This comparison highlights the significant environmental footprint that new data centre developments could have on the UK's overall carbon emissions. Tom Hegarty, head of communications at Foxglove, stated that assuming a 100% utilisation rate for data centres follows standard industry practice, despite government claims that such figures are "misleading".
The role of AI in increasing energy demand
The surge in data centre growth is largely fuelled by the increasing demand for AI and high-performance computing. Globally, data centre electricity consumption is projected to double to around 945 TWh by 2030, representing nearly 3% of total global electricity consumption. This rapid growth underscores the critical need for sustainable energy solutions to power the digital future.
Grid connection issues and delays
A major hurdle for new data centres in the UK is the significant delay in connecting to the national electricity grid. Hundreds of projects are currently awaiting grid connections, due to the strain on Britain's ageing electricity infrastructure, which struggles to cope with the surging demand.
Reliance on gas-fired power stations
Due to these prolonged grid connection delays, many new data centres, including Wapseys Wood and Quest Park, are planning to build their own on-site gas-fired power stations. This reliance on fossil fuels for primary power raises serious concerns about the UK's ability to meet its climate commitments.
The energy intensity of data centre operations
Data centres are inherently energy-intensive, consuming between 10 and 50 times more electricity per square metre than a typical commercial building. This high consumption is driven by the need to power servers, cooling systems, and other critical infrastructure. Cooling systems alone can account for 30-40% of a data centre's total energy use.
The nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) regime
The nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) regime allows certain large-scale developments, deemed strategically important, to bypass traditional local planning processes. Data centres can now opt into this regime, which fast-tracks projects through a national process, with the final decision made by the Secretary of State rather than local authorities. While intended to accelerate critical infrastructure, this approach has drawn criticism for potentially insulating projects from local scrutiny.
UK climate change targets and carbon budgets
The UK has legally binding climate change targets, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100% of 1990 levels (Net Zero) by 2050 under the Climate Change Act 2008. This Act also introduced legally binding carbon budgets, which cap emissions over five-year periods. The rapid expansion of energy-intensive data centres, particularly those relying on gas-fired power, poses a significant threat to achieving these targets.
Government response to data centre growth
The government acknowledges the importance of data centres for the digital economy and AI leadership, viewing them as a vital part of our economy and everyday lives. However, the current energy policy has been criticised for prioritising generation over the specific demands of digital infrastructure, leading to grid bottlenecks and potential investment diversion away from the UK.
Improving energy efficiency and power usage Effectiveness (PUE)
Improving energy efficiency is paramount for data centres. The PUE metric is a key indicator, with an ideal PUE of 1.0 meaning all energy powers IT equipment. The industry average PUE is often around 1.5. Lowering this figure through advanced cooling technologies, optimised server utilisation, and efficient power distribution can significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints.
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References
- The Guardian. Two planned datacentres will have higher UK carbon emissions than ExxonMobil, analysis finds
