Analysis & Research
Independent UK analysis, commentary and long-reads on AI electricity demand, data centres, grid capacity and energy policy. For wider UK energy-market context, see Energy Watch UK. For downloadable studies, see our research reports.
AI Data Centres Make Weak Promises on Waste Heat
Heat reuse works technically, yet in the UK almost none of it has been delivered at scale.
UK Data Centre Pipeline: What Is Actually Built, Approved or Still Proposed?
A verified, dated snapshot of the projects in our UK data centre tracker — what is built, what is only permitted, and why total capacity cannot honestly be summed.
Why Data Centre Megawatt Announcements Can Mislead
Megawatts measure power, not electricity used. A practical guide to IT load, connection capacity, PUE and the five questions to ask about any data centre capacity announcement.
Ofgem's Proposed Data Centre Connection Reforms: What Would Change?
Ofgem wants data centre developers to put money and evidence behind grid connection applications. We set out the proposed commitment fee, the new milestones and what remains undecided.
How Many Data Centres in the UK Are There Devouring Energy?
What official sources actually say about how many UK data centres exist, how much capacity they have, how much electricity they use today and what NESO projects for 2035.
UK AI & Energy Briefing — week of 26 October 2026
Whitehall has moved decisively this week to tie electricity grid access directly to industrial policy, offering fast-track connections and state support for AI data centres targeting 6 GW of capacity by 2030. However, proposals to leapfrog connection queues ahead of housing and without formal consul
UK AI & Energy Briefing — week of 19 October 2026
Mounting electrical and environmental constraints across the United Kingdom are directly challenging the delivery of critical digital infrastructure. Protracted grid connection queues extending into the 2030s have prompted major hyperscaler project cancellations in Essex, driving developers towards
UK AI & Energy Briefing — week of 5 October 2026
The UK's ambition to expand its AI infrastructure is increasingly confronting significant challenges related to energy supply, grid capacity, and environmental impact. This week's developments highlight the complex interplay between rising electricity demand from hyperscale data centres and the pres
UK AI & Energy Briefing — week of 28 September 2026
The past week has highlighted increasing tensions between the UK's growing demand for AI infrastructure and existing energy constraints. Rising electricity costs and local opposition to data centre development underscore the challenges in balancing technological advancement with environmental and gr