LONDON Data Centre Boom: UK Set to See Nearly 100 New Facilities
LONDON — Brace yourselves, data enthusiasts! The UK is gearing up for a data centre revolution, with a staggering increase of almost 100 new facilities on the horizon, as revealed to BBC News.
These mammoth data centres, akin to digital fortresses brimming with powerful computers, are the engine rooms behind a plethora of online services – from streaming movies to managing your online banking. Currently, there are around 477 of these data havens scattered across the UK.
Construction gurus at Barbour ABI have sifted through planning blueprints and forecasts, predicting a near 20% surge in data centre construction. The surge is attributed to the skyrocketing demand for processing power fueled by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
The lion’s share of these data fortresses is slated to materialize over the next five years. However, there are valid concerns regarding the colossal amounts of energy and water these new data centres will guzzle.
Experts are cautioning that this surge could potentially hike up prices for consumers. With over half of the new data centres earmarked for London and its outskirts, the landscape of the digital realm is set for a massive transformation.
Many of these upcoming data sanctuaries are bankrolled by tech behemoths from the US like Google and Microsoft, alongside major investment firms. Wales, Scotland, Greater Manchester, and various other UK regions are also slated to witness the rise of the data phoenix.
While most of these data citadels are slated for completion by 2030, one colossal beast looms on the horizon – a £10 billion AI data powerhouse in Blyth, near Newcastle. This behemoth, backed by American investment juggernaut Blackstone Group, will span 540,000 square meters, dwarfing several large shopping centers.
Microsoft is also flexing its muscles with plans for four new data facilities in the UK, with a combined cost of £330 million. Google, on the other hand, is embarking on a £740 million data odyssey in Hertfordshire, vowing to cool its servers with air, not water.
With the UK currently ranking as the third-largest data hub globally, the government has underscored the pivotal role of data centres as critical national infrastructure vital for the country’s economic future.
However, the environmental repercussions and potential energy bill spikes stemming from these digital behemoths are raising eyebrows. The energy consumption of these new data meccas remains undisclosed, but experts warn of significant power demands compared to older facilities.
Dr. Sasha Luccioni, AI and climate expert at Hugging Face, warns of the aggressive timeline for these data colossi and advocates for companies to foot the bill for the energy surge, rather than passing it on to consumers.
NESO projects a staggering 71 TWh surge in electricity demand from the burgeoning data sector in the next 25 years, underscoring the urgent need for clean power sources like offshore wind.
As the UK grapples with high energy costs and cumbersome planning processes, data center operators are eyeing other countries for their AI ventures, posing a potential shift in the digital landscape.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s intervention overturning local councils’ rejections of data center planning underscores the government’s commitment to infrastructure growth.
While the industry pledges to adopt sustainable practices like dry-cooling, communities are pushing back against the environmental impact of these tech sanctuaries, citing strains on water resources and energy grids.
The future of data centers in the UK presents a complex tapestry of economic promise, environmental concerns, and technological marvels, as the digital realm continues its relentless expansion.
With the data revolution on the horizon, the UK braces for a new era of digital dominance and environmental challenges.
