Research pillar
Water, Emissions and Environment
The environmental side of AI infrastructure in Britain: cooling water, carbon accounting, local impact and what is — and is not — published about any of it.
What this pillar covers
We have not yet published original analysis under this pillar. Rather than fill the page with placeholders, here is exactly what it will cover — and the verified material already on the site that relates to it.
- Cooling water demand, and why UK per-site figures are rarely published
- Carbon accounting for data-centre load, including how grid intensity is applied
- Local environmental conditions attached to planning permissions
- Where a claim rests on modelled assumptions rather than measurement
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.
Related reports
No published report covers this pillar yet. The research library lists what is published and what is still in development.
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.