The Hidden Environmental Cost of Our Digital Lives

In our modern world, we rely on digital technology for almost everything, from sending emails to using artificial intelligence (AI). However, behind every digital action is a physical building called a datacentre. These facilities house the powerful computers that store our data and run the software we use every day. As the demand for AI grows, so does the need for more datacentres. Now, a new report is raising serious questions about the environmental impact of this rapid growth.

According to an analysis by the non-profit group Foxglove, two planned datacentres in England—Wapseys Wood in Buckinghamshire and Quest Park in Bedfordshire—could produce more carbon emissions than the entire UK operations of the oil company ExxonMobil. The analysis suggests that once these facilities are fully operational, they will release over 4.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year. For comparison, ExxonMobil emitted 3.9 million tonnes in 2023, according to the energy thinktank Ember.

Datacentres need a massive amount of electricity to keep their servers running and to power the cooling equipment that prevents them from overheating. Because the current electricity grid is already under pressure, these two projects are planning to build their own gas-fired power stations to generate the energy they need. This has sparked a debate about how these facilities fit into the country’s legally binding climate goals—the official, legal promises a government makes to reduce its carbon footprint.

There is a disagreement regarding these numbers. A government spokesperson stated that the Foxglove analysis is "misleading." They argued that the figures assume both projects will run at 100% capacity from the very first day, which the government says is not accurate. However, Tom Hegarty from Foxglove defended the calculation, noting that assuming full use is standard practice in the industry. Kierra Box, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth, agreed, stating that because the goal is for these centres to run at full power, it is reasonable to look at these high-level predictions.

The scale of the problem is significant. There are currently 315 datacentres waiting to connect to the UK’s electricity grid. Together, they would require 73 gigawatts of power, which is almost double the amount of energy the entire country needs during the coldest winter days. Sam Hunter-Jones, a lawyer at the group ClientEarth, warned that every unit of electricity used by a datacentre is energy that cannot be used to help the country move away from fossil fuels. He noted that unchecked growth in this sector makes the transition to clean energy much harder.

These two specific projects are being fast-tracked through a government system for nationally significant infrastructure projects. This system allows developers to build important infrastructure more quickly by bypassing some local planning rules. This has drawn criticism from those who worry about the environmental consequences. Caroline Lucas, the former leader of the Green party, described the projected emissions as "absolutely horrifying" and suggested that the government should be very concerned.

For its part, the government maintains that there are ways for this rapid growth to fit within its carbon budgets—the limits on the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted over a period of time. However, many experts remain skeptical. Toby Perkins, a Labour MP who leads a committee investigating this issue, said the analysis serves as a "potent reminder" that without the right rules, datacentres could become a serious threat to the environment.

As the world continues to embrace AI and digital services, the challenge of balancing this growth with environmental responsibility will only increase. Oliver Hayes, from the group Global Action Plan, argued that the only way to accommodate these datacentres is to force other parts of the economy to reduce their emissions even further. As the government continues its inquiry, the debate over how to manage this digital expansion without damaging the planet is likely to continue for some time.