UK departments split over AI datacentre power forecasts

[Layla79]

The Guardian reports that UK government departments are using very different forecasts for how much power AI datacentres may need by 2030. That matters because planning for AI growth and net zero depends on the same grid capacity. It feels like the boring infrastructure bit is becoming the real AI bottleneck.
UK departments at odds over energy demands of AI datacentres

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/26/uk-departments-at-odds-over-energy-demands-of-ai-datacentres

[Tara_66]

This is the part of AI nobody wants to cost properly.

[StringTheory51]

Grid planning has to catch up before the hype does.

[QubitZero13]

Six gigawatts is not a rounding error.

[NightHarbour]

Good reminder that AI is physical infrastructure too.

[NeutrinoX74]

Good reminder that AI is physical infrastructure too.

That is one way of looking at it. Thanks for that.

[Rhys]

Good reminder that AI is physical infrastructure too. That is one way of looking at it. Thanks for that.

Spot on. Good stuff.