100 UK Datacentres Seek Gas Power as 100GW Grid Queue Threatens 2030 Climate Goal
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 18
100 UK Datacentres Seek Gas Power as 100GW Grid Queue Threatens 2030 Climate Goal
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 18
More than 100 UK datacentre projects have asked for gas connections, with some now planning permanent on-site gas generation rather than temporary backup because grid access is too slow.
100GW of datacentre projects are sitting in the National Grid connection queue, and gas suppliers say the requests total more than 15 terawatt-hours a year—roughly enough to power London for four and a half months.
Developers are increasingly seeking gas as a primary supply, including requests for more than 100MW on a permanent basis, marking a shift from earlier reluctance over carbon, permitting and land-use impacts.
National Energy System Operator officials said that buildout could complicate Britain's Clean Power 2030 plan, which aims for less than 5% of electricity from unabated gas, while Ofgem said connection reforms are under way.
The debate mirrors the US AI boom, where off-grid gas-powered datacentres have already drawn protests and raised emissions concerns, sharpening criticism that Britain's AI expansion is colliding with its climate commitments.
As AI demands its own power grid, who pays the price for its pollution?
Is the AI boom creating a new fossil fuel lifeline, derailing global climate goals?
UK Data Centres Face Grid Backlog: Gas Power Surge Risks 2030 Climate Goals as AI Drives 9% of National Demand
Overview
The rapid expansion of AI and digital services is causing an unprecedented surge in demand for data centre capacity, which puts immense strain on existing electricity grids and creates an immediate energy crisis. As AI workloads are projected to more than double global data centre electricity use by 2030, the training of advanced models like ChatGPT-4 already consumes vast amounts of energy. This soaring demand leads to a massive backlog for electricity grid connections, making it difficult for new projects to access power. If this demand is met by non-renewable sources, the EU’s climate goals are at significant risk.