Hyperscale data centres could see bills soaring
The Scottish Government must publish details of the impact hyperscale data centres will have on energy bills, the Greens have said.
A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that a Scottish Government official said there was a “clear risk” that locals near hyperscale data centres will “bear the brunt of increased electricity prices”.
The official also stated there is a risk of a “shortage of energy or unreliable power”, admitting that communities will see “little direct benefit”.
The party is demanding the Scottish Government sets out what assessment has been done over this risk to energy bills for households and businesses and how that information is being used to inform planning guidance set to be published by the end of the year.
A proposed site at Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway with a capacity of 1000MW, would be the largest data centre in the world.
It would use 7 million MWh of energy a year at full capacity, the same as over two million homes in Scotland. This alone would put massive strain on Scotland’s energy grid, and households could face rising costs as energy demand spikes.
There are currently 24 applications for hyperscale data centres in the planning system across the country.
Scottish Green South Scotland MSP Laura Moodie said:
“This is a damning admission from the Scottish Government. Communities should not be forced to ‘bear the brunt’ of increased bills so that billionaire tech companies can make huge profits off applications for hyperscale data centres.
“We cannot allow energy bills in Scotland to rise any further in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
“The Scottish Government must stop dragging its heels on this critical issue. Communities across the country deserve to know how much their bills will go up if these applications are approved.
“The Scottish Greens have been warning ministers about these risks, and it is completely unacceptable that they are clearly known about, but in public the Scottish Government is trying to sweep this under the rug.
“We must have transparency. I urge the Scottish Government to publish its assessment and engage with communities who are concerned about the impact hyperscale data centres will have on their bills.”