Research pillar
Grid and Infrastructure
Whether Britain's transmission and distribution networks can physically deliver the power that AI compute is being planned around.
Featured analysis
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.
Read analysisFrom 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
All news →Clean Energy Sector to See Significant Job Growth by 2030, with AI Competency Rising
Read at gov.uk ↗
Plans submitted for 110MW data centre at former Microsoft UK headquarters site in Reading
Read at bbc.com ↗
GridCARE Index identifies potential for significant existing grid capacity optimisation
Read at markets.ft.com ↗
US power demand forecast to reach record highs by 2027, driven by AI data centres, EIA reports
Read at reuters.com ↗
AWS Plans Large Data Centre Campus in Pennsylvania with Dedicated 4.5GW Gas Power
Read at datacenterdynamics.com ↗
Drax's 'sustainable' data centre proposal denied government and local backing
Read at thetimes.com ↗
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.