Technology · 23 February 2026
Ofgem warns datacentres may double Britain's power
Ofgem, the energy watchdog, reported that new datacentre projects in Great Britain could exceed current peak power needs. About 140 suggested schemes, propelled by AI, may demand 50 gigawatts of energy, 5GW more than existing peak usage. This surge in connection applications, noted between November 2024 and June last year, could delay other decarbonisation projects. It also makes achieving the UK's clean energy targets more challenging.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs