MPs to examine climate impact of data centres
26th February 2026
UK: MPs have launched an inquiry into the environmental impacts of data centres in the UK, with energy secretary Ed Miliband claiming that their future energy demand “remains inherently uncertain”.
Amongst the issues the Environmental Audit Committee’s (EAC) new inquiry will examine will be how much energy and water data centres are likely to use, and how this could impact the government’s net zero goals.
It has been estimated that cooling accounts for 30–50% of a data centre’s total energy consumption.
Data centres are regarded by ministers as being central to UK economic growth and were designated critical national infrastructure in September 2024, offering them more legal protections. But their electricity consumption is expected to quadruple by 2030, according to the National Energy System Operator, raising concerns about their sustainability.
In response to the concerns from EAC chair Toby Perkins MP about data centres being omitted from the Government’s projections for the seventh carbon budget (CB7), Ed Miliband said the government’s modelling for CB7 includes emissions from data centres but will also test “a range of trajectories”, given the uncertainty of future demand from data centres.
In their new inquiry, MPs will explore how growing AI use might accelerate the need for data centres and whether planning authorities will take account of their impact on the environment. They will also consider how new technologies could minimise their environmental impact and what lessons the UK could learn from other countries.
Toby Perkins commented: “Will data centres power the UK’s economic growth? Perhaps. But what kind of implications will they have for energy and the environment? How will they impact the already tortuous queues for grid connections and the Government’s plans to bring down energy bills? And what impact will their energy consumption and water usage have on the decarbonisation efforts and viability of other sectors?
“Our inquiry will take a detailed look at the consequences of data centres for the local environment, including their water and energy use, and how the government is taking account of their impact as they prepare plans for the next carbon budget.”
