Scottish AI Data Centre Project Accused of Misrepresenting Renewable Energy Plan
The UK government and developers of a Β£8.2bn AI datacentre complex in Lanarkshire, Scotland reportedly announced plans to power the site entirely with on-site renewables, but internal correspondence obtained by The Guardian shows they privately acknowledged this would not be possible. Local residents reported being offered incentives not to oppose the development and expressed concerns about losing property and green belt land while promised jobs and investment may not materialise.
What happened
In January 2026, the UK government announced a Β£8.2bn AI datacentre complex in Lanarkshire, Scotland, built by CoreWeave and DataVita, promised to be powered entirely by on-site renewables and completed by 2030. According to The Guardian's investigation, internal correspondence and public records show the government and developers privately acknowledged the site had an 'issue' with 'power provision' and that on-site renewable energy generation would not happen, while publicly promising 1GW of 'new energy infrastructure'.
Residents in Newarthill village reported that representatives of Oakes Energy Services knocked on doors offering free solar panels, tree planting, or cash for properties as incentives not to oppose the development, presenting plans for a solar farm. Diane Davidson, a resident, stated: 'None of these sweeteners are enforceable, there's nothing written down.'
Reported impact
Local people in Lanarkshire fear they may have to sell their properties and lose green belt land because of what they describe as a badly planned development. Despite promises of 3,400 new 'high-value' jobs and community funding of up to Β£543m over several years, residents expressed suspicion that they had been misled about the supposed benefits of the development.
Index analysis
A central plank of the project's viability was its ability to power itself with on-site renewables. However, the datacentre has no prospect of meeting this goal according to the analysis of public records and internal correspondence obtained through freedom of information requests.
In response to The Guardian's questions, the government said the Lanarkshire complex would connect to the grid, either joining a years-long queue or being expedited ahead of hundreds of other projects also vying for a connection. A government spokesperson said the site's needs would still be met 'overwhelmingly' with renewables.
Governance controls
The findings raise critical doubts over the UK's ability to address how to provide the extraordinary energy required for the global AI buildout. The government promised that promises of community investment and jobs would be delivered alongside the energy infrastructure project.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.