Guides › Grid connections and energy for new projects
Grid connections and energy for new projects: what it means for data centres and compute start-ups
How long does a data centre grid connection take in the UK?
Updated 6 November 2026 from public records. 12 items below.
At a glance
- 12 records from the last 120 days, 9 naming data centres and compute directly
- No consultation on this open right now
- Latest record: 5 November 2026
Getting a connection to the electricity grid has become one of the slowest steps in building anything that uses a lot of power. The network operators and Ofgem are reforming the queue, and government is steering capacity towards priority projects. For energy and compute businesses, where they sit in that queue can decide when they can operate. Ofgem on connections.
What it means for your start-up
Large demand projects such as data centres face long waits for connection, and government is trying to steer capacity towards priority sites, including AI Growth Zones. Reforms to how demand connections are queued and priced are under way, so where and when you can build is changing.
What to do now
- Follow the plans for AI Growth Zones and what they offer on power and planning.
- Track the reforms to demand connections and how they treat large loads.
- Talk to the network operator early about capacity at the sites you are considering.
Latest from government
Marked: mentions data centres and compute directly.
- Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone secures £300 million investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
AI Growth Zone to support more than 3,400 jobs and attract major new investment to Lanarkshire – supporting the drive for good growth in every postcode. - Energy licence modification appeals 2026
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published its final determinations and order in the appeals by 5 energy companies against modifications made on 3 February 2026 to gas distribution licences, following… - Global Clean Power Alliance
The Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) brings together international partners through two missions focused on accelerating the transition to clean power. - CAC Outcome: PCS & Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem)
Outcome(s) by the Central Arbitration Committee on an application from the PCS.
In Parliament
Marked: mentions data centres and compute directly.
- Which of the five AI Growth Zones have planning consent in place.
Asked by Dr Ben Spencer (Con). AI Growth Zones: Planning Permission - What controls they intend to impose to prevent data centres in rural areas from exhausting the availability of electricity grid connections for other local…
Asked by Lord Teverson (LD). Data Centres: Rural Areas — At the Budget on 28 October 2026, the Government announced the Data Centre Covenant. The Covenant sets out new tests all data centres are encouraged to meet,… - What steps they are taking to ensure that the UK provides globally competitive electricity prices that can continue to attract AI data centre investment.
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick. Energy: Prices — The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) is developing proposals for electricity bill support for eligible data centres located in AI Growth… - What steps they are taking to offer AI data centre investors shorter wait times for electrical grid connections.
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick. Data Centres: National Grid — The Government is reforming the electricity grid connections process to reduce waiting times and accelerate connection offers for strategically important… - What capacity in megawatts (a) has a firm grid connection offer with a date, (b) has planning consent, (c) is under construction and (d) is oper
Asked by Dr Ben Spencer (Con). AI Growth Zones — AIGZ sites must be capable of delivering at least 500 MW of power for AI workloads by 2030, offer at least 100 acres of land by 2028, and demonstrate credible plans… - Whether the AI Opportunities Unit established in the former Department for Science, Innovation and Technology continues to exist.
Asked by Dr Ben Spencer (Con). Artificial Intelligence — Responsibility for realising AI opportunities is now shared across government, with BIST leading on AI policy, data infrastructure including AI Growth Zones,… - What discussions he has had with the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone on opportunities for local people to access jobs and training.
Asked by Imogen Walker (Lab). AI Growth Zones: North Lanarkshire — The Government is working closely with the Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone partners to maximise local jobs, skills, and training opportunities. This… - What assessment has been made of the potential merits of extending industrial energy price relief to data centres.
Asked by Dr Ben Spencer (Con). Energy: Data Centres — The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) is developing proposals for electricity bill support for eligible data centres located in AI…
Want this for your own company? Seam tracks what government, Parliament and the regulators are doing and tells you only what affects your business, as it happens.
Related guides
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. General information, not legal advice.