Time to halt hyperscale data centre land grab
The Scottish Government has been urged to listen to the growing number of councils and campaigners calling for a pause on new hyperscale data centre proposals while national planning guidance is updated.
This follows calls from Edinburgh and East Ayrshire councils for a halt to new developments until they have the information they need, including a definition of so-called green data centres.
At present there are 24 live proposals for hyperscale data centres across Scotland. If they are all approved then estimates suggest they could use up to one and a half times the peak energy demand of the whole of Scotland. That would put huge pressure on our grid, our renewable energy supply, our water resources and our climate targets.
At First Minister’s Questions last week, following questions from the Scottish Greens, John Swinney said he was giving “active consideration” to whether new planning guidance is needed to balance the expansion of data centres with Scotland’s energy and climate goals.
The Scottish Greens are calling for a halt on new data centre proposals over 50MW, a clear working definition of “green” data centres and mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments for all hyperscale proposals.
Scottish Greens economy spokesperson Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“Councils are being asked to make decisions that could reshape Scotland’s energy system without the national guidance they need. That is not fair on local authorities, and it is not fair on the communities who would have to live with the consequences.
“With Edinburgh and East Ayrshire Councils calling for a halt and guidance, it is clear that these concerns are increasingly shared in our town halls and communities as well.
“Some data centres are necessary for the digital services we all rely on, and for socially useful purposes such as health research, but what Scotland is facing now is on a far bigger scale, and involves speculative land and energy grabs from big tech companies.
“The First Minister has said the government is actively considering new guidance, but with councils calling for clarity action is needed urgently.
“That’s why we have urged the Scottish Government to pause new hyperscale data centre applications over 50MW until councils have clear guidance, communities have certainty, and Scotland has a proper national strategy.
“We cannot allow renewable energy that should be helping to cut bills, heat homes and decarbonise transport to be swallowed up by speculative developments designed to serve the profits of global tech giants.”