WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Fuelling the expansion of AI are resource- intensive Hyperscale Data Centres. These are complexes that house the IT equipment that the digital world relies upon. Including servers for storage, processing and distribution of data. This physical infrastructure uses lots of energy and water, both for cooling and indirectly for electricity generation. In context, a Hyperscale Data Centre is considered to consume 10MW or more of continuous power demand. This is equivalent to the energy usage of 10,000 homes. Increasing AI capabilities requires building more Hyperscale Data Centres to power the technology.
Across the UK Hyperscale Data Centres compete with local requirements, for water and energy, cause pollution and drive up energy prices due to demands on the grid. Subsequently there are serious concerns about the ability to support their growth whilst staying within our climate targets.
In Scotland there’re proposals for 24 Data Centres to be brought online in the next 5 years. And many of these installations are 200MW+. Combined they have an energy requirement equivalent to 1.5 x the entire country’s current energy consumption. As Scotland’s only now becoming sufficiently powered by renewable energy, bringing these data centres online would divert this energy from efforts to decarbonise the economy.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Planning permission for new Hyperscale Data Centres is currently within the remit of local authorities. They make decisions on a case-by-case basis; without oversight of the cumulative impact. And with promises of job creation and wider community benefit being unfounded, campaigners across the country are calling for a pause to this unfettered development. As a result the Scottish Greens and the SNP National Council have called for a moratorium on new Hyperscale Data Centres. At least until their environmental, economic and social impacts can be better understood. Now they are asking for updated planning guidance to avoid negatively impacting our energy security.
TAKE ACTION
We agree with our colleagues at SCCAN. Data Centres are being developed too quickly for people to understand what they could mean for their communities, or to have a real say in decisions that could affect them for decades to come.
Join the call for a moratorium on data centres by adding your signature to these petitions:
Action to Protect Rural Scotland petition
For further information and to see where Hyperscale Data centres are planned in Scotland check out the campaign from APRS here.
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