Research pillar
Data Centres
Where UK data centres are being built, what has planning permission, and what the verified project record does and does not show.
Featured analysis
How Many Data Centres in the UK Are There Devouring Energy?
The UK has around 500 to 600 operational data centres, but their size and electricity consumption vary enormously. Discover how AI infrastructure could reshape Britain's energy system.
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From the UK AI Energy Index
Every indicator carries its source, the period it covers and a confidence level. Where the evidence is insufficient, the Index says so rather than estimating.
Data-centre evidence
The project register is compiled from planning records and company announcements. It is not a complete national census and does not claim to be.
Tools for this subject
All outputs are modelled estimates based on the inputs you provide, not measured values.
Recent news in this pillar
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Nano Nuclear partners with Tillman Digital to deploy micro nuclear reactors at US AI data centers - DCD
datacenterdynamics.com
Data centres drive Ireland to reopen nuclear power debate
ft.com
Digital cities: the future of Britain’s data centres
thetimes.com
Two planned datacentres will have higher UK carbon emissions than ExxonMobil, analysis finds | Datacentres - UK | The Guardian
theguardian.com
Data centres and the UK National Accounts - Office for National Statistics
ons.gov.uk
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology - GOV.UK
gov.uk
How we research this
We work from primary UK sources — DESNZ, NESO, Ofgem, planning authorities and published company documents. Where a figure is modelled by us it is labelled an AI Energy Intelligence modelled estimate, with its assumptions shown. Where the evidence does not exist, we say so.