• Analysis
Lanarkshire AI datacentre to run fully on National Grid despite earlier renewables claim
DataVita says its Lanarkshire AI datacentre near Chapelhall, outside Airdrie, will be fully served by the National Grid, having earlier promised the project would draw 1GW directly from renewable sources.
From 1GW of green power to a grid connection
DataVita has revised its Lanarkshire AI datacentre plan so the site will be entirely served by the National Grid, after earlier stating the project would draw 1GW from green sources – the equivalent output of a small nuclear reactor, or Britain's largest windfarm. The development sits near the village of Chapelhall, outside Airdrie.
An earlier announcement from the company said more than 1GW of renewable capacity, including wind, solar and battery storage, would be delivered through private wire connections directly linked to the datacentres.
DataVita now describes the datacentres as fully grid served, with the possibility that solar and windfarms could connect in the future. The company maintains that the power it draws from the grid will be largely renewable energy.
What DataVita says now
When questioned, the company said the renewables arrangement was subject to final commercial agreements, planning, grid and consenting processes. A DataVita spokesperson said the commitment to renewable energy was unchanged.
"Our grid supply will be through a renewable power purchase agreement."
The company also proposes to build a wind and solar park in North Lanarkshire that its datacentres could connect to in the future.
Public backing and the AI growth zone
DataVita still holds £202m of public money in wealth guarantees from Britain's national wealth fund. Under former prime minister Keir Starmer, Britain's AI strategy was to build massive datacentres in zones across the country, with developers receiving incentives including potentially discounts on energy and expedited planning approvals.
DataVita was to build one of the strategy's key developments, an "AI growth zone" in Lanarkshire, supposed to bring 3,400 jobs by building a 500MW datacentre.
Critics question the claims
Kat Jones, director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, said DataVita's change was emblematic of the hyperbolic claims being made by datacentre developers in Scotland.
"Hyperscale AI datacentres simply cannot run on renewable power alone"
Jones added that such facilities need a highly reliable source of grid power. AI datacentres are among the most energy-intensive structures ever built, UK energy costs are higher than most of Europe, and there is a years-long wait for UK developments to connect to the grid. Two key UK AI investments announced by Starmer's government are, according to the report, on shaky ground over their ability to power themselves or pay high energy costs.
DataVita maintains the renewable commitment stands through the power purchase agreement, with its proposed North Lanarkshire wind and solar park a possible future connection for the datacentres.
