London's Data Centre Expansion Poses Major Environmental Threat
The rapid proliferation of data centres across London threatens to derail the capital's ambitious decarbonisation objectives, according to stark warnings delivered to the London Assembly. With between 50 and 60 new facilities currently in the planning pipeline, environmental campaigners have raised serious concerns about the devastating consequences for climate targets and local infrastructure.
Carbon Emissions and Energy Consumption Concerns
Oliver Hayes, Head of Policy & Campaigns at Global Action Plan, told the London Assembly Environment Committee that every ten new data centres could generate approximately 2.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions. This staggering figure represents a significant setback for Mayor of London's climate ambitions, potentially undermining years of environmental progress.
"This is definitely undermining the process we've been making," Hayes emphasised during the committee session. He projected that by 2050, data centres alone could consume a quarter of the UK's entire electricity consumption from the previous year. Remarkably, just ten of the proposed facilities would produce carbon emissions equivalent to the savings achieved from a complete transition to electric vehicles across the capital.
Water Stress and Infrastructure Pressure
The environmental impact extends beyond carbon emissions, with particular concerns about water resources in already strained areas. Hayes highlighted that water stress - where demand exceeds available supply - is most acute in London and the South-East, precisely where the majority of new data centres are being planned.
Four boroughs face particular pressure from the proposed developments:
- Havering
- Tower Hamlets
- Newham
- Brent
While existing data centres in London are relatively small, the new generation of facilities will be substantially larger, creating unprecedented demands on local infrastructure. This comes at a time when London's housing supply crisis has already been exacerbated by electricity grid capacity issues, with some west London developments temporarily delayed due to insufficient power availability.
Backup Generators and Air Quality Impacts
Data centres require continuous operation, necessitating backup generators that typically run on diesel. This creates additional environmental challenges, particularly concerning air quality in urban areas. Hayes warned that these backup systems "risk undermining the progress that we've heard about on air quality" in London.
There are further concerns that technology companies may seek to power data centres using onsite gas generation to accelerate construction timelines, a move that would have "devastating consequences for the climate" according to environmental experts.
Financial Implications for Londoners
The infrastructure demands of new data centres extend beyond environmental considerations to financial impacts for residents. Hayes expressed concern about potential bill increases, explaining that "every additional demand such as that coming from data centres requires additional infrastructure, grid upgrades, more renewables than would otherwise be needed."
He added: "Those costs will inevitably filter down to bill payers." This comes at a time when many London households are already facing economic pressures from rising living costs.
Calls for Policy Intervention
Environmental campaigners are urging immediate action, calling for the forthcoming London Plan to include a dedicated data centre policy. Hayes stressed the urgency of intervention, noting that "we are at a bit of a fork in the road where a lot of this stuff, if it's built now, will be around for a long time."
Transparency has been identified as a crucial element in addressing these challenges. The committee session followed a roundtable discussion with policy experts and environmental practitioners at City Hall, reflecting growing concern across the sector.
Political Response and Future Scrutiny
Leonie Cooper, Chair of the London Assembly Environment Committee, described this as an "important moment" to review London's environmental progress. She noted that discussions with stakeholders would help shape future scrutiny of issues that matter most to Londoners.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London confirmed that work is underway to determine "how to best address the need for data centres in London," balancing technological requirements with environmental commitments. The coming months will prove critical in determining whether London can accommodate technological growth while maintaining its climate leadership ambitions.
