Data centre development continues to boom in the UK and Ireland. This growth raises important questions about energy consumption, sustainability, and responsibility. Facilities are putting more and more of their eggs in the electrified-fuel-AI-basket. If you listen to many climate experts, doubling down on a reliable, clean energy source is the key. Nuclear power is a rising star.
Currently, the UK’s 500 data centers account for approximately 2.5% of the nation’s total electricity consumption. This figure is set to explode. Safety net No matter what the climate projections bring, by 2030, these centers will be responsible for nearly 6% of the country’s total electricity use. Just think, these 80 Irish data centers eat up 21 percent of the Emerald Isle’s total electricity use. This percentage is expected to increase to 30% by this coming October (2023).
Matt Garman, chief executive of Amazon’s cloud division, AWS, highlighted the urgency of the moment. It’s because as businesses continue to adopt AI technologies—which they are at a startling clip of 52% right now—the energy demand will continue to skyrocket. Every single minute, we’re having a new company starting that’s deploying AI. This tremendous growth so far this year reflects a growing demand for clean and resilient sources of energy.
“AI is one of the most transformative technologies since the internet. It’s going to have a significant effect on almost every part of our lives.” – Matt Garman
The implications for energy infrastructure are substantial. By 2050, data centers in the UK are projected to consume nearly as much energy as all industrial users combined today. This anticipated growth has led many industry leaders to consider nuclear power as an essential component of the energy mix.
Nuclear energy delivers an incredible, zero-carbon power source, always-on and in great abundance. This trend dovetails nicely with the growing demand from data centers. EDF is currently hard at work constructing one colossal nuclear behemoth at Hinkley Point in Somerset. Meanwhile, a decision on a second facility at Sizewell in Suffolk is still awaited.
Alex Chisholm noted the critical role of nuclear energy in addressing the energy needs of data centers:
“Why are data centre providers turning to nuclear? They will need a lot of energy, reliably.” – Alex Chisholm
We know the challenges that are making energy investments difficult. Jess Ralston from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit highlighted that investors often face long waits for grid connections, which can impede growth in this sector.
“Investors can be waiting years for grid connections holding back growth.” – Jess Ralston
Yet the pace of AI’s technological advancement has created some panic over the regulatory structure covering it. Separately, Garman expressed doubts about current regulatory regimes. He contended that these rules would do more to stifle innovation than promote it, particularly since everything is changing so fast.
“The technology is moving at such a rate that I don’t believe there’s the knowledge of the folks that are building those regulations are going to be able to keep up.” – Matt Garman
He pushed for smart and careful regulation that helps make sure technology benefits society as a whole while grappling with the challenges created by new technologies.
“Anytime you’re building that much of a transformational technology, it’s important to think about those controls and guardrails so that it can go towards the betterment of society not the detriment.” – Matt Garman
As stakeholders in both countries contemplate their energy futures, the emphasis on nuclear power as a viable option appears increasingly justified. Big projects like Hinkley Point C and the phased introduction of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can surely help turn Britain’s energy dial in the right direction. That surge in energy would help power the country’s burgeoning digital economy.