LIVE … lattes of Big Tech capex so far todayLIVE … GWh used by the world's data centres todaySLOUGH 65% of the town's electricity goes to data centresGB GRID 50.8 GW of data centres in the connection queueCAPEX $720–745bn Big Four spend guided for 2026HYPERSCALE 1,136 worldwide, up from 430 in 2018PIPELINE 504 more hyperscale sites plannedUK ~100 new data centres could be built in 5 years2030 945 TWh world data centre demand forecast, IEALOUISIANA 5 GW Meta's planned Hyperion campusWATER 155bn glasses: Google's 2024 consumptionMAPPED 4,004 data centre sites from open data
Data Center Clock

← Back to the clock · updated 26 October 2026

Data centres are 55% of Britain's grid demand queue

In NESO's March 2026 survey, 50.8 GW of data centre projects were seeking connection to Britain's transmission network, 55% of all demand in the queue src. Ofgem notes only around 20 GW reported having reached a final investment decision src.

Why so many?

Connection queues are first-come, first-served, and holding a place is cheap compared with the value of a grid connection. Developers apply speculatively for multiple sites, which is why regulators are now reforming the process to prioritise projects that are ready to build.

For context, NESO's own forecast is about 5.2 GW of data centre demand by 2030 src.

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