New analysis reveals alarming emissions from planned gas-powered facilities in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire
Category: Climate & Environment
In the heart of the UK, a concerning trend is taking shape as two planned data centres—Wapseys Wood in Buckinghamshire and Quest Park in Bedfordshire—prepare to rely on gas-fired power stations to meet their energy needs. This decision comes against the backdrop of a staggering backlog in the UK’s electricity grid connection queue, which has swelled to 125 gigawatts (GW) by June 2025, nearly three times the nation’s peak demand of approximately 45GW. The implications of this development are both immediate and far-reaching.
As the demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure surges, these data centres are set to generate more than 4.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually—outpacing ExxonMobil's entire UK operations, which emitted about 3.9 million tonnes in 2023. This stark comparison raises serious questions about the sustainability of such projects and their compatibility with the UK’s legally mandated climate targets.
The rapid growth of AI technologies has led to an explosion in data centre applications, with at least 73GW of that backlog attributed to data centre projects alone. Developers of Wapseys Wood and Quest Park have opted to build their own gas power stations to bypass the lengthy waiting period for clean grid connections. Each site plans to operate gas turbines with a combined capacity of 1.3GW, allowing them to begin operations sooner rather than later.
Foxglove, a digital rights nonprofit, conducted an analysis highlighting the environmental consequences of this shift. According to their findings, the two facilities will collectively emit 4.577 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) annually. This figure is derived using the UK government's greenhouse gas conversion factors and reflects the emissions expected when the data centres operate at full capacity.
At the core of this issue lies a structural mismatch between the speed of AI compute demand and the ability of the electricity grid to accommodate it. The National Grid's infrastructure was not originally built to handle the rapid influx of new industrial loads. Connection offers that were once expected within months have now extended to years, making it commercially untenable for developers planning large data centres.
Tom Hegarty, Foxglove's head of communications, emphasized that the industry standard for long-term emissions assessments typically assumes full utilization. This means that projections for emissions must be taken seriously, particularly when considering the long-term implications for the UK's climate strategy. Kierra Box, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth, echoed this sentiment, stating that the aim of any data centre is to increase load and run at full capacity, making these projections valid.
Both Wapseys Wood and Quest Park are among the first data centres being processed as Nationally Significance Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). This designation allows developers to bypass local planning authorities, placing the final decision in the hands of government ministers. Critics, including Caroline Lucas, former leader of the Green Party, have described the projected emissions as "absolutely horrifying," arguing that the fast-tracking of these projects insulates them from local scrutiny.
Donald Campbell, Foxglove's director of advocacy, pointed out that the developers have made no effort to present the projects as environmentally friendly. He warned that if the bulk of pending gas-grid applications were approved, climate pollution from big tech would escalate dramatically. The community surrounding Wapseys Wood, which is near two primary schools and a hospital, is particularly concerned about the air quality impacts of burning fossil fuels.
The implications of building gas-fired data centres extend beyond immediate emissions. The gas turbines planned for these sites are expected to operate for 20 to 25 years, potentially running well past the UK’s 2050 net-zero target. This raises the specter of carbon lock-in, where investments in fossil fuel infrastructure hinder the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Oliver Hayes, head of policy at Global Action Plan, articulated the trade-off involved: “The only way the rapid rollout of data centres could fit within these budgets is if other elements of the economy were assigned much stricter carbon budgets.” This shift places an undue burden on sectors like housing and transport, which may face stricter emissions limits to accommodate the growth of data centres.
In response to the growing concerns, Ofgem has initiated a consultation aimed at addressing the speculative applications clogging the connection queue. Proposed reforms include a Data Centre Commitment Fee, intended to deter developers from holding capacity they do not intend to use. Yet, as the current situation demonstrates, imposing fees may not reverse the decisions already made by developers to invest in gas generation.
As the UK government grapples with balancing the demands of economic growth and climate commitments, the future of these data centres remains uncertain. With a legal precedent established that may complicate future NSIP applications, the outcome of these projects could have lasting implications for the UK's climate strategy.
In a world increasingly aware of the climate crisis, the decision to build gas-fired power stations for data centres raises pressing questions: How can the UK reconcile its commitment to net zero with the immediate demands of technology? The stakes are high, and the answers will shape the future of energy generation and climate policy.
The urgency of this situation matters, particularly as the UK continues to experience extreme weather events attributed to climate change. As the debate over energy sources intensifies, the decisions made today will echo for generations to come.