UK Datacentre Plan Shifts From On-Site Power to Grid Connection

The £8.2bn Lanarkshire AI datacentre won't generate its own power as originally promised. Internal documents show officials knew the renewable energy plan was unfeasible. The facility will now draw from the national grid—a queue that takes eight to ten years—while the government claims renewables will still cover most demand. The January 2026 announcement had pledged entirely on-site generation by 2030.