Lanarkshire AI datacentre to fully rely on National Grid despite renewables claim

DataVita has revised plan for Chapelhall development to be wholly powered by 1GW of renewable energy


A datacentre company that said it would power a massive AI development near Glasgow with renewable energy has admitted that the scheme will be entirely served by the National Grid.


DataVita, a key plank of the UK’s AI strategy, had promised that the Lanarkshire project would draw 1GW - the equivalent output of a small nuclear reactor, or Britain’s largest windfarm - from green sources. But when the Guardian raised questions about the pledge, it said the arrangement was “subject to final commercial agreements, planning, grid and consenting processes”.

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https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/nov/07/lanarkshire-ai-datacentre-datavita-chapelhall-national-grid-renewable-energy