Proposed London datacentre will have annual carbon footprint of 27,000 flights to New York
Summary
A proposed large datacentre in outer London would produce about 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, equal to the emissions from nearly 27,000 flights between London and New York. The project aims to support AI and cloud computing but faces criticism due to its high carbon footprint and impact on the local green belt land.Key Facts
- The East Havering Data Centre Campus (EHDCC) would cover 218 hectares of green belt land in north Ockendon, London.
- It is expected to emit over 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, totaling 72 million tonnes over 60 years.
- The carbon footprint is comparable to 26,795 long-haul flights from London Heathrow to New York JFK.
- The datacentre would use 2.65 billion kWh of electricity yearly, similar to the demand of over 1 million UK homes.
- Major upgrades to the National Grid, including new substations, are planned to support the site’s energy needs by 2033.
- The UK government classifies datacentres as critical national infrastructure and allows large projects to bypass local planning approvals.
- The growth in datacentres is driven by increasing demand for AI technology and cloud computing.
- Local residents and environmental groups are concerned about loss of farmland, wildlife habitats, and pollution from the development.
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