Powering Great Britain’s Data Centre Ambitions

Report: A reality check for Britain’s data centre industry

For data centre developers in the UK, the path to grid connection is often a complex and challenging one. Our latest report, ‘Powering Great Britain’s Data Centre Ambitions’, reveals a stark disconnect between perception and reality, and the critical need for a realistic approach.

Comprehensive data centre study

The findings from our comprehensive study of 50 leading UK data centre developers, investors and operators found that half underestimate connection times by seven years. Such a large gap between expectation and reality can render projects unviable and place businesses at a competitive disadvantage.

The report further assesses Great Britain’s potential as a data centre market leader and the wider barriers professionals face to complete their projects, with key report findings including:

Over half identify securing grid connections as a primary barrier to project success, with 84% considering network reliability vital.
36% face energy cost and pricing uncertainty that exacerbates delays, forcing half of all projects to change locations.
76% are exploring international alternatives, potentially removing opportunities from the UK economy.
82% favour clean power grids for investments, especially as electricity demand from data centres is set to double by 2030.

Download the full report

Download our full report ‘Powering Great Britain’s Data Centre Ambitions’ to understand the challenges facing the industry and discover how to navigate these complex connection processes.