DataVita revises Lanarkshire datacentre power plan as project shifts to National Grid supply

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DataVita datacentre power plan

Highlights

DataVita revised its Chapelhall datacentre plan to source power from the National Grid with renewable power purchase agreements, scrapping previous direct 1GW renewable supply ambitions.
The Chapelhall project retains £202 million in national wealth fund backing and is critical for an AI growth zone despite ongoing concerns over UK's datacentre energy costs and sufficiency.
Community stakeholders and market observers note the shift could intensify debate about the feasibility of scaling UK datacentre capacity amid high power prices and delivery challenges.

Revised power model for Chapelhall site

As first reported by The Guardian, DataVita has updated plans for its datacentre development in Chapelhall, Airdrie, saying the facilities are now expected to be fully served by the National Grid instead of drawing 1GW directly from renewable sources.

The company had earlier said the Lanarkshire project would use green power on a scale comparable to the output of a small nuclear reactor or Britain's largest wind farm. After questions over how that commitment would be delivered, DataVita said the arrangement had been subject to final commercial agreements and planning processes.

Under the revised approach, the company says electricity obtained through the grid will still be largely renewable. A spokesperson said DataVita has not misrepresented its intentions and is now stressing reliance on grid power backed by renewable power purchase agreements, rather than direct delivery of large renewable capacity to the site.

Implications for UK AI infrastructure

The Chapelhall development remains linked to plans for an AI growth zone in Lanarkshire and continues to receive 202 million pounds from the national wealth fund. The revision comes as concerns persist over whether the UK can provide sufficient and cost-effective electricity for energy-intensive datacentres, particularly given power prices that are higher than in parts of Europe.

Community advocates have also questioned how practical it is for hyperscale AI datacentres to rely entirely on renewable energy without dependable grid access. The shift in DataVita's power plan may therefore feed into broader debate over the UK's national AI strategy, which prioritizes expanding datacentre capacity across Britain while facing mounting pressure over supply, cost and delivery.

Our earlier article on the U.S. AI data center buildout highlighted how soaring financing costs, construction delays, and grid limitations are making many headline-scale projects look less credible. It also noted that investor confidence is increasingly tied to whether developers can secure reliable power and deliver facilities on time and on budget.

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