"Campaign groups have written to the UK technology secretary, Liz Kendall, warning that the energy required by new AI infrastructure poses a serious threat to efforts to decarbonise the electricity grid. Developers should demonstrate that their projects will not cause an increase in the UK's overall CO2 emissions or local water scarcity, as part of a forthcoming national policy statement (NPS) on datacentres."
"Ofgem, the energy regulator for Great Britain, recently published a calculation that the amount of power being sought by new datacentre projects would exceed the current peak of national electricity consumption. Ofgem said in a consultation this month that about 140 proposed datacentre schemes, driven by the use of artificial intelligence, could require 50GW of electricity – 5GW more than Great Britain's current peak demand."
"Without these commitments, such vast electricity use will inevitably generate vast climate emissions, the campaigners write. The letter is signed by Foxglove, a group that campaigns against big tech dominance, and five other non-governmental organisations including the environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth."
Campaign groups including Foxglove and Friends of the Earth have written to the UK technology secretary demanding that datacentre developers demonstrate their projects will not increase the UK's overall CO2 emissions or cause local water scarcity. The letter comes as MPs launch an inquiry into datacentre environmental sustainability. Ofgem calculations show 140 proposed datacentre schemes could require 50GW of electricity, exceeding Great Britain's current peak demand by 5GW. Individual projects like those in Elsham, Lincolnshire and Cambois, Northumberland each require 1GW of electricity, equivalent to a nuclear power station's output. The energy secretary acknowledged uncertainty around future datacentre energy demand. These developments pose significant challenges to the UK's net zero 2050 commitment.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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