UK data centre proposals would require more electricity than nation's current peak demand
About 140 proposed data centre projects in the UK would require 50 gigawatts of electricity, exceeding the country's current peak demand of 45GW, according to energy regulator Ofgem. A surge in connection applications between November 2024 and June 2025, driven by AI demand, exceeded even the most ambitious forecasts.
Ofgem warned that connecting data centres could delay renewable energy projects critical for the government's 2030 clean energy target. The rapid rise in AI-driven energy consumption threatens both decarbonization goals and electricity costs for consumers.
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