Data Centres: Energy
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the capabilities of UK data centres to meet the energy usage required with the increasing use of AI.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
The Government keeps UK data centre capability under review and works closely with energy regulators, network operators and industry.
Through the AI Energy Council, Government is assessing system‑wide impacts, promoting energy efficiency and clean power solutions, and ensuring that growth in AI compute supports economic growth without undermining energy security or climate objectives.
Through AI Growth Zones, the Government is streamlining planning, improving access to power and crowding in investment, while ensuring developments are located where energy system impacts can be managed effectively.
UK Data and AI infrastructure is subject to the UK’s environmental and planning frameworks, which require assessment of impacts such as energy use. Larger data centres, which will be able to apply through the recently introduced Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project route, will also be subject to these requirements.
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