Action to Protect Rural Scotland

Great to see an article in the Guardian by Aisha Downs about the alarming normalisation of 'behind the meter gas generation' for hyperscale data centres which we saw in discussions at a major energy conference in Glasgow last week.

Full quote for the article from our Director Kat below:

"Those promoting the rush for hyperscale AI data centres seem to be living in a parallel reality where the last fifty years of climate science hasn't happened, and where we aren't already experiencing the signs of climate breakdown.

"Time and again, the conference sessions on AI and hyperscale data centres seemed to be taking it for granted that onsite gas generation would be needed if these ultra energy intensive developments are to happen, due to the impossibility of connecting them to our congested grid.

"Those responsible for supplying and distributing energy are obviously struggling to work out how to accommodate the astronomical energy demand. NESO officials were valiantly trying to make the case that data centres should have to dial up and down energy demand with the vagarities of wind generation, something which seems unlikely to be popular among the famously demanding hyperscalers, but it was especially alarming to see onsite gas so normalised in the discussions. The only solution is to have a moratorium on the hyperscale AI data centres while a proper analysis of their impacts on climate targets, the grid and our communities can be carried out."