Key facts
- Two planned datacentres in England, Wapseys Wood and Quest Park, are projected to emit over 4.5 million tonnes of carbon annually.
- This projected emission level exceeds ExxonMobil's 2023 UK emissions of 3.9 million tonnes.
- Both datacentres are seeking to build their own on-site gas-fired power stations due to grid connection delays.
- The analysis assumes a 100% utilization rate for the datacentres, a standard industry practice according to campaigners.
- The government disputes the emission figures, stating the utilization assumption is inaccurate and that datacentre growth can align with climate targets.
Analysis by the non-profit group Foxglove indicates that two planned datacentres in England, Wapseys Wood in Buckinghamshire and Quest Park in Bedfordshire, will collectively produce over 4.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually once operational. This figure surpasses the 3.9 million tonnes emitted by ExxonMobil in the UK in 2023, according to the thinktank Ember.
These datacentres, which require substantial electricity for servers and cooling, are reportedly seeking to build their own on-site gas-fired power stations due to long waits for grid connections. Foxglove's calculation, based on government figures for electricity generation's carbon intensity, projects 4.577 million tonnes of emissions per year from these two projects.
A government spokesperson described the figures as misleading, challenging the assumption of 100% utilization from day one. However, campaigners like Tom Hegarty from Foxglove and Kierra Box from Friends of the Earth defended the projection, stating that the aim for datacentres is to operate at full capacity and that top-level predictions are valid.
Former Green party leader Caroline Lucas called the projected emissions 'absolutely horrifying,' while Labour MP Toby Perkins highlighted the analysis as a reminder of the environmental threat posed by datacentres without proper measures. Oliver Hayes of Global Action Plan suggested that accommodating this rapid datacentre growth within carbon budgets would necessitate stricter limits on other economic sectors. ClientEarth lawyer Sam Hunter-Jones argued that datacentre growth hinders the transition away from fossil fuels by consuming power that could otherwise replace them.
Concerns were also raised about the projects being fast-tracked through the nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP) regime, which bypasses local planning authorities. Hayes viewed this as a 'very worrying sign' and an 'affront to local people,' suggesting it indicates a lack of seriousness about addressing datacentre emissions. Lucas echoed these concerns, stating the NSIP regime reduces local scrutiny.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated that datacentres are vital to the economy and that the government will enable their growth by building clean power.