DataVita Lanarkshire AI centre to use National Grid despite green energy pledge

A datacentre firm that previously claimed it would power a major AI development near Glasgow using renewable energy has acknowledged the project will now be served entirely by the National Grid. DataVita, a central component of the UK’s AI strategy, had pledged that the Lanarkshire site would draw 1GW of power from green sources, an amount equivalent to the output of Britain’s largest windfarm or a small nuclear reactor.

When questioned about the commitment, the company stated that the arrangement was “subject to final commercial agreements, planning, grid and consenting processes”. The firm, which claims its plans would transform the economy of Chapelhall village near Airdrie, has now adjusted its proposal. It currently states the datacentres will be “fully grid served” while noting that wind and solar farms “could connect in the future”.

DataVita claims the electricity it takes from the grid will consist primarily of renewable energy. The business currently holds £202m in public money through wealth guarantees provided by Britain’s national wealth fund. While the move appeared inevitable given the difficulty of the original renewable provision, it may create complications for the company and the broader UK AI strategy.

Under former prime minister Keir Starmer, the government’s AI strategy involved constructing massive datacentres across the country, with developers offered incentives such as expedited planning approvals and potential energy discounts. DataVita was set to build an “AI growth zone” in Lanarkshire, which was intended to generate 3,400 jobs by establishing a 500MW datacentre. However, this strategy faced challenges after investigations showed a lack of substance behind several announced plans.

AI datacentres are among the most energy-intensive structures ever built, and energy costs in Britain remain higher than in most of Europe. Furthermore, UK projects often face a wait of several years to connect to the national grid. Two major UK AI investments, which were announced with significant fanfare by the Starmer government, are now on unstable ground due to questions regarding their ability to power themselves or cover the high energy costs required to fulfil their stated goals.

In a statement, a DataVita spokesperson denied that the company had misrepresented its intentions earlier this year, saying: “Our commitment to renewable energy is unchanged.” The spokesperson added: “Our datacentres are being designed to be grid served … Our grid supply will be through a renewable power purchase agreement.”

This statement appears to conflict with a previous announcement from the company, which stated: “More than 1GW of renewable energy capacity, including wind, solar, and battery storage, will be delivered through private wire connections directly linked to the datacentres.” DataVita has left open the possibility that the sites might connect to renewable energy later, through a wind and solar park it proposes for North Lanarkshire.

Kat Jones, director of the Edinburgh-based charity Action to Protect Rural Scotland, described DataVita’s shift in direction as “emblematic of the hyperbolic claims being made by datacentre developers in Scotland”. She added: “Hyperscale AI datacentres simply cannot run on renewable power alone, they absolutely need a highly reliable source of grid power. It is not surprising that the goalposts have now changed.”