Ofgem targets speculative AI data centres to free up Britain’s energy grid

Ofgem has announced plans to stop speculative AI data centre projects clogging up Britain’s electricity grid, after applications for new power connections more than tripled in less than a year. The energy regulator is consulting on a new upfront commitment fee for large data centre developers, alongside tougher rules r

As two energy ministers oppose the prime minister's plan for national AI rules for data centres, the question over how to power the facilities intensifies.

The rise of artificial intelligence is putting a legitimate question at the centre of public debate: who will pay for the energy needed to power data centres?

4 min readJul 27, 2026 09:09 PM IST Data centre electricity demand is forecast to grow 20-fold by 2040 from 10 TWh in 2025 and would account for 7% of the total electricity demand, it added.Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres will put an additional load of 26.3 gigawatts (GW) by 2031-32, the Ministry of Power inf

East London’s neglected docklands have found a new life. In squat windowless buildings racks of computer servers purr in air-conditioning that sweaty local residents would kill for. These data centres were built a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf, a financial hub. Such proximity means superfast internet speeds, a crucia

Nearly 30 residential properties are located along a 35-mile stretch in Georgia where some residents said they have no choice but to sell their homes.

It risks missing a big opportunity