UK Datacentre Grid Queue Reaches 73GW, Far Exceeding National Demand

Ofgem reports 315 datacentre projects seeking UK grid connections, totaling 73GW of demand — nearly 30GW above the UK's peak energy demand of 45GW. The queue has grown from 140 projects (50GW) since February 2026. Average wait times reach 8–10 years. Ofgem proposes upfront commitment fees and binding milestones to filter out speculative projects, pending consultation.