Proposed London Datacenter Project Faces Scrutiny Over High Carbon Emissions

Proposed Datacenter's Environmental Impact

Planning documents reveal that the East Havering Data Centre Campus (EHDCC), a proposed "hyperscale" datacenter in North Ockendon, London, is estimated to generate over 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. This figure is comparable to the carbon footprint of 27,000 flights between London and New York. Over its projected 60-year lifespan, the development is expected to produce more than 72 million tonnes of CO₂e.

Developer Acknowledges Non-Alignment with Net Zero

Digital Reef, the developer behind the £14.7 billion project, stated in its planning application that the EHDCC "does not align with a science-based 1.5C compatible trajectory and achieving net zero by 2050." This admission highlights the significant environmental challenge posed by the large-scale datacenter, which would be one of Europe's largest if approved.

High Electricity Consumption and Infrastructure Demands

The EHDCC is projected to consume 2.65 billion kWh of electricity per year at a 50% load, which is equivalent to the annual demand of over 1 million UK households. To power this facility, a substantial 600MVA connection to the National Grid is required. This necessitates major infrastructure upgrades, including a new 400kV National Grid substation and a 132kV UK Power Networks facility, with full connection anticipated by 2033.

Concerns from Advocacy Groups and Local Residents

Donald Campbell, advocacy director at Foxglove, described the projected emissions as "staggering" and a "big threat to the ability to decarbonise in the UK." He also noted concerns about the datacenter's drain on essential resources. Additionally, local residents have voiced opposition, with the North Ockendon Residents Association calling the development a "massacre" of green belt land, which is currently used for crop production.