Parliament | MPs have launched a new inquiry on the environmental impacts of data centres in the UK.
Amongst the issues the Environmental Audit Committee’s new inquiry will examine will be how much energy and water data centres are likely to use, and how this could impact the UK Government’s net zero goals.
Data centres are regarded by ministers as being central to UK economic growth and were designated critical national infrastructure (CNI) in September 2024, offering them more legal protections. However, their electricity consumption is expected to quadruple by 2030, according to the National Energy System Operator, raising concerns about their sustainability.
In their new inquiry, MPs will explore how growing AI use might accelerate the need for data centres and whether planning authorities will take account of their impact on the environment. They will also consider how new technologies could minimise their environmental impact and what lessons the UK could learn from other countries.
