Scotland is at the center of a global competition to build giant artificial intelligence data centres, with at least 23 hyperscale facilities in the planning stage. These facilities would dwarf Scotland's current largest data centre in Airdrie, which has a 12MW capacity. The proposed Chapelcross centre in Dumfries and Galloway would have 1,000MW capacity, making it one of the world's largest. The Auchtertool site in Fife would span 60 hectares, roughly the size of 84 football pitches.
Tech companies are racing to build these centres because AI workloads demand enormous computational power. Every ChatGPT query, Google search and online bank transaction relies on data centres running servers and cooling systems around the clock.
The Scottish government designated Lanarkshire an AI growth zone in January, with promises of £8bn in investment and 3,400 jobs. About 800 of those positions would be in AI, with 50 apprenticeships. The remainder are construction roles.
Scotland's appeal to developers lies in its renewable energy sector, which generates substantial wind power. However, experts caution this does not mean the centres would run entirely on renewables. When wind drops or clouds block the sun, fossil fuel power stations may need to activate to keep servers running.
The centres present dual concerns around energy and water. The Scottish Greens and campaign groups have called for a moratorium, arguing hyperscale facilities could undermine climate targets and stress renewable energy supplies. Data centres also require large quantities of water for cooling. People living near US data centres have reported constant noise, and some claim the facilities have driven away wildlife.
In August, the Scottish government announced that proposed centres exceeding 50MW would need ministerial notification. It rejected calls for a pause on applications but required environmental impact assessments. The government said it was "highly unlikely" any large data centres would receive approval before Christmas and promised new guidance by year's end.
The Scottish government supports the investment despite opposition. The UK government similarly backs the growth zone, concerned that China and the US are winning the AI race.