Home / Technology / Data Center Boom: Green Belt Under Threat?
Data Center Boom: Green Belt Under Threat?
11 Nov
Summary
- Data center development proposes campus on London's green belt.
- Locals fear decades of construction noise and traffic disruption.
- Concerns rise over data centers' high electricity and water consumption.
A proposal for one of Europe's largest data center campuses in North Ockendon, Havering, east London, is facing significant local resistance. The development, planned for London's green belt, has drawn criticism from residents concerned about 8 to 20 years of construction, noise, and a thousand additional vehicles daily. These concerns echo wider debates about the necessity and placement of data centers, which are crucial for modern digital life.
Demand for data centers is escalating, driven partly by AI's need for increased processing power. The UK currently has approximately 477 data centers, with projections indicating a rise of about 100 more, predominantly in London and the South East. However, energy and water supply present major challenges. A report for the Greater London Authority indicates that grid capacity limitations could delay new data center connections by seven to 13 years in west London.
Data centers also raise concerns about water usage, with a 100MW facility potentially consuming up to 2.5 billion liters annually, equivalent to the needs of 80,000 people. While the industry is exploring more efficient systems, data centers in London already account for about 5% of its potable water, a figure expected to increase to 7%. The draft London Plan supports data center growth in suitable locations but mandates that water and electricity capacity must be available, prioritizing brownfield sites over green belt land.
Industry representatives emphasize that data centers are becoming more transparent about their operations and are implementing sustainable practices, such as closed-loop water systems. They argue that energy usage is increasingly from renewable sources and that UK data centers use a small percentage of non-domestic water. Some experts, however, caution that the projected water demand from data centers could strain future supply, even with new reservoirs. The debate continues regarding the balance between digital infrastructure needs and community impact.
