Key facts
- The UK's largest AI supercomputer project in Loughton, Essex, faces delays due to power supply problems.
- The datacentre, announced in 2025, was expected to launch in 2027 but may be delayed until the mid-2030s.
- UK Power Networks stated the local grid cannot supply sufficient power until the early to mid-2030s.
- The Loughton site requires up to 90MW of capacity, equivalent to the energy consumption of about 315,000 homes.
- There are 315 datacentres queueing for electricity connections, demanding 73GW of power.
The construction of the UK's largest AI supercomputer, planned for Loughton, Essex, has been significantly delayed due to power supply issues. The project, announced in 2025 by Nscale, a UK-based startup, was originally slated for a 2027 launch but now faces potential delays until the mid-2030s. UK Power Networks (UKPN) has reportedly informed Nscale that the local grid cannot supply the necessary power until that time. The datacentre requires up to 90MW of capacity, a demand equivalent to approximately 315,000 homes. This situation highlights the growing challenge of energy availability for datacentre development, with 315 datacentres already queueing for grid connections, representing a total demand of 73GW, far exceeding the UK's peak energy demand of 45GW. Nscale is exploring on-site power generation and ways to expedite the connection process. The project was previously cited by the UK government in its AI strategy as the 'largest UK sovereign AI datacentre'.