New Homes In London Were Delayed By 'Energy-Hungry' Data Centers

A London Assembly report warns that surging demand from 'energy-hungry' data centers is straining the electricity grid and delaying new housing developments. With data-center electricity use expected to rise up to 600% by 2050, officials fear London's housing crisis could worsen without coordinated action. The BBC reports: According to the report (PDF) from the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee, some new housing developments in west London were temporarily delayed after the electricity grid reached full capacity. The committee's chair James Small-Edwards said energy capacity had become a 'real constraint' on housing and economic growth in the city.

In 2022, the General London Assembly (GLA) began to investigate delays to housing developments in the boroughs of Ealing, Hillingdon and Hounslow - after it received reports that completed projects were being told they would have to 'wait until 2037' to get a connection to the electricity grid. There were fears the boroughs may have to 'pause new housing altogether' until the issue was resolved. But the GLA found short-term fixes with the National Grid and energy regulator Ofgem to ensure the 'worst-case scenario' did not happen -- though several projects were still set back. The strains on parts of London's housing highlighted the need for 'longer term planning' around grid capacity in the future, said the report.

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