Written question asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated) on Wednesday, 2 September 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. It was answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 September 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade.

Data Centres: Energy

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the expansion of artificial intelligence data centres in the UK is supported by sufficient energy and grid capacity.

Answer

The Government recognises that growth in AI and data centres is increasing electricity demand and that grid connection delays are a major barrier to new capacity in the UK.

To address this, the Government is reforming the connections process to better support strategically important demand, including data centres. Working with DESNZ, Ofgem and the National Energy System Operator, reforms will reduce delays, limit speculative applications and prioritise viable projects, helping unlock capacity faster while maintaining security of supply. Through the AI Energy Council, we are exploring a resilient, sustainable and scalable solution.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL3044
Session: 2026-27
Subjects: Energy Artificial intelligence Data centres
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Data Centres: Energy

Secondary information

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