MPs warn grid failures could cost Britain the AI race

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Data Centres has published its Insights Paper, summarising findings from its inaugural 'Call for Evidence'. The group is a cross‑party group of UK MPs and Peers that fosters parliamentary understanding of data centre development, examines sector challenges (particularly planning, energy, resilience, and sustainability) and makes evidence‑based policy recommendations to support UK digital infrastructure and economic growth. Notably, respondents to its Call for Evidence signalled a substantial appetite to invest in UK data centre infrastructure. Operators including Ark Data Centres, Nebius, Pure DC, and VIRTUS collectively identified £11–12 billion in specific investment plans, while Microsoft's submission committed a further £22 billion to UK AI infrastructure. Despite this intent, respondents consistently described a set of interconnected structural barriers constraining the pace and location of development: • Grid access and energy supply ranked as the sector's top priority, with 52% of respondents placing it first. • Planning was placed in the top three by nearly four in five respondents (79%), while energy costs, sustainability, water use, and skills also featured prominently across submissions. • The APPG is particularly keen to hear further evidence from community representatives, local authorities, and organisations with experience of data centre development outside London and the South East. Parliamentary comments Chris Curtis MP, Chair of the Data Centres APPG, notes, "This Call for Evidence shows that while significant investment is ready to support the UK's expanding AI and digital economy, it remains constrained by grid access, energy costs, and planning inconsistencies. “The APPG will use this evidence over the coming year to work constructively with stakeholders and the Government to ensure that there is a well-informed view on how data centre infrastructure drives our national economic growth." Alison Griffiths MP, Vice-Chair of the Data Centres APPG, adds, “The submissions to this Call for Evidence make clear that the barriers to data centre development are not insurmountable. "They highlight gaps in the consistent application of planning policy by local authorities, as well as the need to ensure electricity cost competitiveness is felt across every part of the country. "It is clear there are practical steps the Government can take to strengthen the UK’s leadership in digital infrastructure [and] I look forward to exploring these issues further in our upcoming evidence sessions.” David Reed MP, Officer of the Data Centres APPG, highlights, "The submissions from academic institutions such as Exeter, Durham, and Oxford remind us that research computing infrastructure is increasingly cost-prohibitive for academia. This gap risks undermining the UK's long-term international scientific competitiveness. “As the APPG deepens its work, I look forward to hearing from a broad range of stakeholders in this vital debate and developing practical solutions that support a thriving data centre ecosystem.” The Rt Hon. the Lord (Philip) Hunt of King’s Heath OBE, Officer of the Data Centres APPG, concludes, "Sustainability is not a secondary consideration for this sector; it is central to its long-term viability and its licence to operate in communities across the UK. “The evidence on waste heat recovery is particularly striking: the UK is currently capturing just 3–5% of the heat generated by data centres, against a backdrop of a national housing and energy challenge that demands innovative solutions. The APPG will be pressing hard on what policy levers can unlock this opportunity."

Schneider to showcase AI infrastructure at Datacloud

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric has announced it will present its latest AI-ready data centre technologies during the Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, France, from 1–4 June 2026. The company says it will showcase technologies designed to address increasing demands around power delivery, cooling, resiliency, and high-density compute as AI workloads continue to scale. According to Schneider Electric, the event will focus on infrastructure designed for AI deployments, including power architectures, liquid cooling systems, software platforms, and digital services for data centre environments. The company cites forecasts from Morgan Stanley and Gartner predicting significant growth in AI-related infrastructure investment and global AI spending over the coming years. Industry discussions to focus on AI growth challenges On 2 June, Frédéric Godemel, EVP of Energy Management Business at Schneider Electric, will join representatives from Oracle, DATA4, QTS Data Centers, and CBRE for a keynote panel examining AI infrastructure demand and the development of neocloud deployments. Later that same day, Thierry Chamayou, Vice President of Cloud and Service Providers in EMEA at Schneider Electric, will participate in a separate panel discussing energy investment strategies and utility collaboration for AI infrastructure projects. Participants include representatives from GreenScale, Trench Group, Kao Data, JSM Group, and Solar Turbines. Marc Garner, Global President of Schneider Electric’s Cloud and Service Provider Segment, says, “AI is fundamentally reshaping the future of digital infrastructure, creating new demands around power, cooling, and resiliency at unprecedented scale. “At Datacloud Global Congress, we will demonstrate how collaboration across the ecosystem is enabling the next generation of AI factories and helping organisations build scalable, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure built for the AI era.” Liquid cooling and AI data centre technologies on display Schneider Electric will also present technologies including its 800VDC architecture, liquid cooling systems from Motivair, high-density racks, and digital modelling platforms. The company says demonstrations will include NVIDIA Omniverse integrations, digital twin technologies, and NVIDIA reference designs for the GB300 NVL72 platform. Visitors to Stand 122 will also be able to view the company’s EcoStruxure IT DCIM and EcoStruxure Foresight software platforms, alongside its microgrid and data centre services portfolio. For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Kao Data appoints new CEO

Kao Data, a data centre developer and operator, has appointed Spencer Lamb as Chief Executive Officer as the company continues expanding its AI-focused data centre platform across the UK. Spencer Lamb, who joined Kao Data in January 2020, previously served as Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer. He will now oversee day-to-day operations and growth strategy alongside founder and Executive Chairman David Bloom. According to the company, Spencer will focus on the development of Kao Data’s AI-ready data centre capacity and support the continued growth of its UK facilities. David Bloom will remain Executive Chairman, concentrating on long-term strategy, financing, partnerships, and engagement with government around AI infrastructure and energy development. During his time at Kao Data, Spencer has led the company’s commercial strategy and supported the expansion of its portfolio across Harlow, Slough, Northolt, Park Royal, Greater Manchester, and additional sites under development. The company says he has also played a key role in developing the Harlow campus as a location for high-performance computing, AI workloads, scientific research, and life sciences computing. A leadership change to support AI infrastructure growth Kao Data says the leadership structure is intended to support the company’s next phase of growth as demand for AI and high-density computing infrastructure increases. Spencer comments, “I have loved my time at Kao Data, and I am excited to step up and lead the company as its CEO. “I am looking forward to ensuring Kao Data continues to play a strong and defining role in the UK’s AI infrastructure story, and that we keep delivering for our customers, our people, and the communities we operate in.” David Bloom, Executive Chairman at Kao Data, adds, “Spencer’s appointment formalises what has been an increasingly natural evolution in how we lead this business. “As CEO, Spencer will drive Kao Data’s operations and day-to-day growth strategy, while I remain directly focused on the strategic priorities that will shape our next chapter: major financing, capital partnerships, M&A, and our ongoing engagement with government on the UK’s AI infrastructure agenda.” Spencer Lamb’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer is effective immediately. For more from Kao Data, click here.

Data centre cycling event returns to Cannes

The Data Center Cycling Club (DC.CC) will return to the French Riviera ahead of the Datacloud Global Congress 2026, bringing together riders from across the global data centre sector for a charity cycling challenge in Cannes. Now in its fourth year, the event will see 17 riders from nine companies complete a three-day route across the French Riviera between 29 May and 31 May 2026. Organisers say the event is intended to promote wellbeing, industry networking, and fundraising for charity. Founded by Tom Babbington, DC.CC has expanded each year since launching, with support from businesses across the data centre industry. This year’s routes begin in Cannes and include climbs and coastal roads across the region, including Col de la Madone, Gorges du Loup, the Mediterranean coastline, and Mont Vinaigre. Riders are expected to cover approximately 500km and 7,644m of elevation across the three days. The event will again be led by Marcus Cram, event manager and cyclist, alongside UK National Hill Climb Champion Rachel Galler, who will act as guide for the tour. Tom Babbington, Founder of DC.CC, says, “When I founded the Data Center Cycling Club, I believed our industry was full of people who love a challenge, love a cause, and love the opportunity to come together through cycling. “This event is about much more than the kilometres we ride; it’s about building connections across the industry and supporting a charity carrying out life-changing work for children and families.” DC.CC supports children’s medical research charity Funds raised through the 2026 event will go to Action Medical Research, a UK charity that funds medical research focused on children and babies. According to the charity, its research funding has contributed to developments including polio vaccines, meningitis treatment, and ultrasound scanning during pregnancy. Lucy Holloway, Corporate Partnerships & Events Management Executive at Action Medical Research, comments, “Support from initiatives like DC.CC helps us to continue funding the next generation of medical breakthroughs for babies, children, and families across the UK.” DC.CC first launched with the Tour of Europe ride from Amsterdam to Monaco, timed to coincide with the opening of Datacloud Global Congress. Organisers say participation has continued to grow since the inaugural event. This year’s event is supported by companies from across the data centre sector, including Adaptive MDC, Pentagon Technical Services, EAE Group, Ridge & Partners, Spa Communications, GagaMuller, Kolo DC, Zauner Group, and B + R Architects.

Pure DC secures $2.7bn AI data centre funding

Pure Data Centres Group (Pure DC), a designer, developer, and operator of hyperscale data centres, has secured $2.7 billion (£2 billion) in financing to support the expansion of its AI and hyperscale data centre infrastructure across Europe and the Middle East. The financing package includes a $2.15 billion (£1.5 billion) facility secured against the company’s campuses in Dublin and Amsterdam, alongside an increase in its corporate financing facility to $550 million (£408 million). The expanded financing structure includes support from financial institutions including SMBC, ABN AMRO, and Allianz Global Investors. According to Pure DC, the $2.15 billion (£1.5 billion) facility was syndicated within three months and will support continued development at its Dublin and Amsterdam sites. Construction is currently underway at the Amsterdam campus, which is fully leased. The company notes its Dublin campus recently became Europe’s first carbon net zero data centre microgrid. Located in the Ballycoolin area, the campus is designed to provide up to 150MW of IT capacity, with 54MW currently permitted. Expansion plans across FLAP-D and the Middle East Pure DC says the increase in its corporate financing facility will support investment in new FLAP-D sites and AI-focused data centre campuses across the region. The company states that the funding structure is intended to provide greater flexibility when securing sites and progressing future developments. The business is also targeting further expansion in the Middle East, which it identifies as a growth market for AI and hyperscale infrastructure over the coming decade. Gary Wojtaszek, Executive Chairman and interim CEO of Pure DC, comments, “Pure DC is rapidly positioning itself at the centre of Europe and the Middle East’s AI transformation, leveraging one of the region’s fastest-growing FLAP-D hyperscale platforms to deliver the next generation of AI inferencing infrastructure. “The support we’re seeing from leading global financial institutions reflects that. This funding demonstrates strong market confidence in Pure’s leadership team and strategy.” Mike Schwartz, Chief Financial Officer at Pure DC, adds, “Over the past 12 months, we have materially strengthened and diversified our financing platform, bringing in high-quality institutional partners and increasing available capital. “The successful syndication of the $2.15 billion facility and the expansion of our corporate facility demonstrate both the depth of market demand and the confidence lenders have in our assets, structure, and strategy. “Importantly, the combination of asset-level and corporate-level financing gives us the flexibility to accelerate investment across the business and act decisively as new opportunities arise.” For more from Pure DC, click here.

GreenScale study examines data centre energy use

GreenScale, a developer of hyperscale data centre campuses, has published analysis examining how a proposed data centre development in Derry/Londonderry could support renewable energy use and reduce electricity system costs in Northern Ireland. The whitepaper analyses grid constraints, renewable energy curtailment, electricity demand, and infrastructure capacity across the region. According to the report, locating data centre infrastructure closer to renewable energy generation in Northern Ireland’s North West could improve grid utilisation and reduce renewable energy wastage. Northern Ireland is targeting 80% renewable electricity consumption by 2030, with the transition projected to deliver annual consumer savings of approximately £110 million. Brian Doherty, Managing Director of GreenScale Ireland, says, “This whitepaper highlights a growing mismatch between where renewable energy is generated and where demand is located. "Northern Ireland has made strong progress in expanding wind capacity, but transmission and system constraints mean a significant proportion of that clean energy is curtailed, which means it is effectively switched off, often during periods of high generation. "This increases system costs and reduces the value of existing infrastructure. A strategically located data centre campus in the North West could help absorb surplus power, reduce curtailment, and support lower overall electricity system costs.” Wind curtailment remains a major challenge The report states that 29.6% of wind generation in Northern Ireland was curtailed during 2024 because of transmission constraints and electricity system balancing requirements. According to the analysis, the strongest wind generation resources are concentrated in the North West, while the largest areas of electricity demand are located elsewhere. The report argues that this imbalance limits the effective use of renewable generation during periods of high wind output. GreenScale says flexible electricity demand from data centres could help absorb excess renewable generation that would otherwise be curtailed. The company also states that facilities capable of adjusting parts of their power demand in response to grid conditions could improve overall electricity system efficiency. Pressure grows on established data centre markets The whitepaper also highlights wider growth in global data centre electricity demand, which is projected to reach 945TWh by 2030. The report notes that established European data centre markets including Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Dublin (FLAP-D) are facing increasing grid constraints and longer connection timelines, leading operators to consider alternative regions with greater power availability. GreenScale identifies Northern Ireland’s North West as a suitable location for future data centre infrastructure because of its wind generation resources, available land, and proximity to renewable energy supply. The report concludes that improving alignment between renewable generation and electricity demand could reduce energy wastage, improve grid efficiency, and support Northern Ireland’s clean energy targets. For more from GreenScale, click here.

Via Licensing Alliance expands Voice Codec programme

US-based patent licensing platform Via Licensing Alliance has announced continued momentum for its Voice Codec patent pool, including the addition of a new unnamed licensee and new licensors, NovaVoice Limited and Cordial IP, further growing the programme’s patent stack and market penetration from its initial five, large global licensors. The addition of the new licensee, unnamed at this time, reflects growing industry adoption of the collaborative licensing pathway Via’s Voice Codec programme creates for accessing IP rights to critical voice technologies. It also reflects a growing market uptake of advanced voice technologies, including EVS and IVAS, driven by rising demand as 5G and 5G-Advanced technologies are adopted worldwide. Additionally, Via says it continues to prioritise transparency and has published its full rate structure for the Voice Codec pool, providing further clarity and predictability for implementers and to the broader market. For implementers, the full rate structure allows for complete visibility as they consider the appropriate royalty structure to choose from to meet their product level costs, evaluate future growth paths for their product lines, or plan their geographical expansion plan needs. This level of disclosure not only reduces uncertainty in licensing decisions but also enables more consistent benchmarking, reinforcing confidence in fair, market-aligned SEP licensing practices. The programme’s royalty rates are listed on Via’s website. Anticipating future growth The addition of the new licensors indicates increased interest from patent holders in licensing their voice technology SEPs through highly efficient, aggregated licensing vehicles such as patent pools. Future growth in both the licensor list and the number of patents consolidated through the pool licence will continue to enhance the value of the Voice Codec licence for implementers. Via’s Voice Codec programme licensors are listed on the website. Via’s Voice Codec pool covers Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), which supports voice communications across more than one billion (and growing) active devices globally, as well as Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS), which will play a central role in next-generation voice and spatial audio applications. Kevin Mack, President of Via Licensing Alliance, says, “We are pleased to welcome these new entrants to our pool, which signals continued growth and momentum our Voice Codec programme. "This pool licence offers strong value relative to other market options and represents the only collaborative licensing solution for EVS and IVAS technologies, making it a smart and efficient pathway for companies seeking to licence critical voice capabilities." EVS remains a foundational technology for high-quality voice communications in 5G and 5G-Advanced networks, with adoption continuing to expand as 5G, 5G-Advanced, and future network iterations reach global scale. As spatial audio and advanced voice technologies expand into 6G and a broader range of non-cellular devices, the importance of IVAS technologies is expected to increase, with Via’s pool offering an early and effective licensing pathway. For more information about the Voice Codec patent pool, including information for prospective licensees, you can click here to visit the website.

Schneider supplies AI infrastructure for Lake Mariner campus

Global energy technology company Schneider Electric and Motivair, a provider of liquid cooling systems for data centres, owned by Schneider Electric, have completed phased delivery of more than $290 million (£215 million) in AI infrastructure systems for TeraWulf at its Lake Mariner data centre campus in New York, USA. The companies say the project is focused on supporting scalable AI and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure, with the Lake Mariner campus expected to support up to 750MW of power demand once fully developed. TeraWulf explains that the site is being redeveloped from a former industrial location into a data centre campus designed for AI, cloud, and HPC workloads, and that the project combines power infrastructure, cooling technologies, racks, monitoring systems, and engineering services from Schneider Electric and Motivair. The company adds that the campus benefits from access to existing power infrastructure and a regional electricity grid that is approximately 89% zero-carbon. Sean Farrell, Chief Operating Officer at TeraWulf, comments, “TeraWulf’s strategy is centred on delivering scalable, energy-efficient infrastructure capable of supporting the increasing intensity of AI and HPC workloads. "By working closely with industry leaders like Schneider Electric and Motivair, we are accelerating the development of AI-ready capacity at our Lake Mariner facilities while reinforcing the strong operational foundations needed to support long-term customer demand.” Project combines power, cooling, and monitoring systems Schneider Electric says the deployment included Galaxy VX UPS systems, lithium-ion battery systems, EcoStruxure IT Data Center Expert software, and NetShelter racks and enclosures. Meanwhile, Motivair supplied coolant distribution units (CDUs), in-rack manifolds, chilled door technologies, and associated support services. The companies state that the systems were delivered within a 12-month deployment timeframe as TeraWulf accelerated construction of its AI-ready data centre facilities. The Lake Mariner campus is also supported by long-term customer agreements with Core42 and Fluidstack, with the latter being backed by Google. Manish Kumar, Executive Vice President, Secure Power & Data Centers at Schneider Electric, notes, “As demand for AI infrastructure accelerates, ‘time to power’ has become a defining constraint on growth. "Operators need partners who can bring together advanced infrastructure, services, and expertise in energy technology to underpin large-scale AI data centre deployments at pace. “Our partnership with TeraWulf establishes a strategic blueprint for pairing on-site power, AI-enabled automation, advanced liquid cooling, and digital intelligence at a legacy industrial site. We are delivering resilient, efficient, and scalable data centre solutions at the speed and scale this AI era demands.” For more from Schneider Electric, click here.

Case study: Reducing emissions through refrigerant recovery

Through this case study, A‑Gas, a company specialising in lifecycle refrigerant management (LRM), demonstrates how its Rapid Recovery service enabled the safe, fast recovery and AHRI‑700 reclamation of 1,745 kg of R134a during a London data centre chiller retrofit, preventing 2,495 tonnes CO₂e, maintaining continuous operations, and enabling a successful transition to lower‑GWP cooling. The background The customer is a leading technology solutions and services provider in Europe, headquartered in the United Kingdom. It offers a broad portfolio of products and services, including data centre hosting, enterprise infrastructure, and cloud infrastructure, among others. The company, A‑Gas, is building a sustainable future through the supply of lower global warming refrigerants combined with responsible lifecycle management of refrigerant gases. Through its first-class recovery, reclamation, and repurposing processes, it captures refrigerants and fire protection gases for future re-use or safe destruction, preventing harmful release into the atmosphere. The offering, Rapid Recovery, is A-Gas’s premier refrigerant recovery service. Across the globe, it provides a safe and fast onsite solution, which includes what the company calls industry-leading F-Gas documentation. The challenge A-Gas was engaged by a digital infrastructure provider operating an edge data centre in London to support the recovery of refrigerant and assist in the transition to a lower GWP solution. The A-Gas Rapid Recovery team was contracted to recover a significant volume of R134a from four chillers scheduled for decommissioning. These units were being replaced as part of a retrofit project involving the installation of new cooling equipment with a substantially lower GWP. The solution A-Gas Rapid Recovery, an onsite refrigerant recovery service that operates up to 10 times faster than traditional methods, was appointed to assist with recovering the high GWP gas used at the data centre. The Rapid Recovery equipment is fully independent of external services (such as power), is portable, and is capable of reaching units across distances exceeding 300 feet (91 metres) through flexible hoses, making it ideal for challenging locations. This innovative solution proved perfect for the complex retrofit project, where efficiency was paramount. A-Gas’s team of certified F-Gas engineers managed the full recovery process, enabling contractors to focus on other critical aspects of the retrofit, ensuring streamlined and timely project completion. The results Over a four-day period, the A-Gas Rapid Recovery team successfully recovered 1,745 kg of R134a refrigerant, preventing the equivalent of 2,495 tonnes of CO₂e emissions. In addition, new chillers with a lower GWP were installed, significantly reducing the Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) of the cooling systems. A-Gas’s quick and efficient refrigerant recovery process ensured the project was executed without disruption to data centre operations, maintaining continuous service to customers and uninterrupted data security. The conclusion The recovered refrigerant was reclaimed to AHRI 700 standards, ready for safe reuse in the market. By ensuring full recovery and reclamation, A-Gas mitigated emissions from both leaks and the production of new refrigerants, supporting the principles of the circular economy, combining environmental protection with operational continuity. For more from A-Gas, click here.

LiquidStack expands GigaModular CDU capacity

LiquidStack, a US-based provider of liquid cooling technology for data centres, has expanded the scaling capabilities of its GigaModular CDU platform, with the system now validated for deployments of up to 14MW. The modular liquid cooling platform is designed for AI and high-density data centre environments, including infrastructure aligned with NVIDIA Vera Rubin specifications. LiquidStack says the architecture is intended to allow operators to expand cooling capacity incrementally without large-scale infrastructure redesigns. First introduced in June 2025, the GigaModular platform has now completed multi-module system integration and full-load testing. The company says the system has achieved ETL certification and has been released to manufacturing. The announcement comes amid continued growth in AI infrastructure demand and increasing pressure on data centre capacity. According to CBRE, the global weighted average data centre vacancy rate reached 6.6% during the first quarter of 2025. Modular cooling aimed at AI infrastructure growth LiquidStack says the platform has been designed to support phased AI infrastructure expansion through modular deployment and centralised controls. Key features of the GigaModular CDU platform include: • Centralised system controls intended to simplify operations and reduce infrastructure redundancy• Modular scaling designed to support phased AI deployment growth• Flexible cooling distribution architecture for changing rack densities and facility layouts• Support for high-density GPU environments and large-scale AI deployments• Global service support through Trane Technologies, LiquidStack's parent company Joe Capes, Vice President at Trane Technologies and General Manager of LiquidStack, says, “The challenge for AI infrastructure today is the ability to scale quickly and efficiently enough to keep pace with demand. "GigaModular was designed to remove the infrastructure constraints limiting AI growth through a centrally controlled, modular architecture built for system-level scalability, flexible deployment, and hyperscale AI expansion.” LiquidStack has also announced it will demonstrate the GigaModular platform at Datacloud Global Congress 2026, taking place from 2–4 June in Cannes, France. For more from LiquidStack, click here.